Focusing on China and the Far East

PSA Journal, Oct, 2000 by Clara L. Anish

Welcome to the exciting Far East--the world of astonishing beauty steeped in ancient tradition. Welcome to glistening Hong Kong, traditional Beijing, cosmopolitan Shanghai, and exotic Bangkok. Explore the charms of the other side of the globe--across the Pacific Ocean and the International Date Line-temples, shrines, gardens and an impressive display of culture, bustling cities, quaint, quiet villages, fantastic scenery, and friendly people.

China's Great Wall is a ribbon of serpentine stone across the country, up and over the mountains of northern China. It is the longest and oldest man-made structure - one of the true wonders of the world. Climbing its steep ramparts is truly a breathtaking experience!

Explore Beijing's Forbidden City - the world of the "Last Emperor," a massive complex of historic significance containing 250 acres of pavilions, gardens, and courtyards of incomparable grandeur. Here emperors live in luxurious seclusion.

Just outside the walls of the Imperial Palace lies Tiananmen Square, the largest plaza on earth, home to Mao's Mausoleum, monuments, museums, and the impressive Great Hall of the People (the Republic's parliament).

Densely populated Beijing is the political, economic, and cultural capital. Stroll the people-lined streets. See the myriad of bicycles, the overcrowded busses, the interesting and varied market stalls. Meet the proud and friendly, family-oriented people. Explore the Temple of Heaven, a wonder of 15th century Chinese architecture, where emperors of the Ming and Ching dynasties prayed for good harvests.

The Empress Dowager's Summer Palace, with its fairytale landscapes and manicured gardens, evokes a feeling of serenity. There are 700 acres of parkland, dreamy lakes, fascinating temples, pagodas, and pavilions.

Thirty miles north of Beijing, leading to the Ming Tombs is the Avenue of the Animals, with sculptured stone animals (real and mythical), giant pandas, and warriors.

There are lavishly-furnished hotels in Beijing offering gourmet dining, numerous amenities, and excellent service. Tour the Beijing Zoo to photograph the delightful, unpredictable antics of the playful pandas. Catch the amused expressions on the faces of the youthful observers.

Friendly people await as you approach Dalian, a strategically located Manchurian seaport city. Enthusiastic kindergartners welcome you to their classroom, delightfully chant the characters of the Chinese alphabet, and entertain with a song and dance performance. Visit the Dalian Shell-Carving Factory to select an exquisitely designed shell picture or authentic looking handcrafted flowers.

Qindao, with its flavor of old-world Germany, is a beautiful seaside city. Stroll the Promenade, along the Pier, crowded with proud parents accompanied by energetic, colorfully clad youngsters who gladly pose for portraits. A picturesque marketplace lines the quaint alleyways of Qindao. Visit the elaborately decorated Cathedral - and in contrast, the simple Protestant Church, whose setting attracts photographers and nearby artists.

Continue to Wuxi, a lakeside resort on the Grand Canal. Laundry hangs from makeshift lines, and villagers wave as you pass. Wuxi is a picturesque town with a network of waterways and cobbled streets. The Silk-Reeling Factory is an interesting place to visit.

Nanjing, ancient capital of the Ming Dynasty, is located in a scenic basin formed by the Yangtse River Purple Mountains. Innumerable stairs lead to the impressive Mausoleum of Sun Yatsen. Explore the fascinating marketplace. Unique animal-shaped trash containers serve to enforce the city's cleanliness code. When I was there, workers were constructing a giant movie set.

Shanghai, the commercial heart of the nation, is a city of 12 million people, with towering skyscrapers and art deco buildings, honking traffic, and hordes of shoppers. Tour the old city, the busy bazaars, and winding alleys. Explore the exotic Yuyan Gardens with their unique rock formations. Admire, in awe, the precision of the diligent workers in the Cloisonne Enamel Wares Factory. Beautiful Oriental rugs are woven in Shanghai. No visit would be complete without a trip to the impressive Jade Buddha Temple.

Soushow, 50 miles from Shanghai, is situated on the Grand Canal near Tai Lake. Trees line the cobbled streets. There are charming, whitewashed houses and beautiful gardens. The city proper is criss-crossed by a network of canals and natural waterways that serve as thoroughfares. Much of the city's commerce moves by way of the Grand Canal, the largest man-made waterway in China. Traditional in appearance, the city preserves many of China's handicrafts - jade, ivory and sandalwood carving, and decorative fan making.

Hangchow, located at the foot of the Eye of Heaven Mountains, is a popular resort and one of China's most beautiful southwestern cities. The wavy hills are speckled with pagodas, temples, arched bridges, scarlet-columned monasteries, walkways, parks, teahouses, gnarled cypresses and willows, delicate peach and plum blossoms, scented lilies, and colorful chrysanthemums. Maple trees shade the boulevards. Hangchow is noted by silk fabrics, linen, satin, and brocades, embroidery, glassware, and Dragon Well Tea. It is a fertile area--the leading producer of tea, rice, cotton, hemp, and flax. At the Tu Chin Chang Silk Factory, production begins with the silkworm cocoons. Visit the Linyin Temple. There are many traditional buildings and Buddha images in Hangchow.