[Travel Story] A CRI Winner's Trip to China

Text/photo by Richard P. Wilds

My Travel Schedule

May 17 Beijing: Tanzhe Temple, Beihai Park
May 18 Beijing: The Great Hall of the People
May 19 Beijing: The Great Wall
May 20 Beijing: Forbidden City, Summer Palace
May 21 Xi'an: Terro Cotta Warriors, Huaqing Hot Spring
May 22 Xi'an: Museum of History, Forest of Stone-Steles Museums
May 23 Xi'an: Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone, Xi'an Jiaotong University

At the Beihai Park

May 17, 2005 Beijing: Tanzhe Temple, Beihai Park

We met in the lobby of the Holiday Inn and quickly made friends and had a deep discussion about cultures, politics and a path to peace through education.

We began own trip together to the Tanzhe Temple in the mountains outside of Beijing. We passed beehive boxes several times on the way up. After parking, we began a long and winding walk up a rock walkway that was steep.

In the temple there were a number of different shrines with beautiful decorations. I was taken with one set of buddhas with middle eastern or western signs on them, which seemed interesting.

Also, the building all had carved creatures on the roof. Gao Huiying mentioned that it was a protective effort to keep them out and protect those within.

I took many photos and one movie clip; the area was colorful, full of happy people from many nations. The trees and

At the Beihai Park

mountain air was wonderful, much more fresh than in Beijing.

In the afternoon, we visited the Beihai Park. There were many steep walks, but I loved the stone walkways. The stairs to the White Pagoda was wonderful. Gao Huiying and I got many good pictures of the park. From the top, you could see the Forbidden City.

In the evening the entire group of CRI staff and guesst went to have a true Chinese dinner. It was a feast and all had fun. We were very glad to see Xavier back from the hospital. He had felt ill when we went to the Beihai Park. It seems he was having jet lag.

Now I must work on the speech I have been asked to give next day.

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