Jul 16.
Our group arrives late in the evening from our flight in from Xian. But not too late for Margaret and Tricia to check out the prices for a massage and to schedule sign up for treatments. How can you go wrong for 60 – 80 CNY (about $10 US)?
Xian Photo Gallery
Sam's Journal- Day 4 Xian
Jul 16.
We leave Beijing for a quick and I mean a really quick visit to Xian to see the Terra Cotta Soliders. Up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a 7:15 a.m. flight two hours to Xian, tour the museum, visit the City Wall, and then head to the airport for dinner and to catch a two hour evening flight to Dunhuang.
Xian, for me it is all about the Terra Cotta Soldiers. Four years ago, on my first trip to the PRC and to see the Terra Cotta Soldiers, I wasn’t sure of what to expect. This time, there were images that I’ve had locked into my head that I missed and wanted to capture. Other than complying with the new “No Tripods Allowed” restrictions, I feel that I did better job, translating what I had in my mind’s eye into a digital image.
Back to chronicling the trip. The “pits” where the soldiers are located were a sauna; hot and not much air movement. Fortunately, the display is so impressive that your senses are at least overwhelmed and awed to the point that the heat and lack of fresh air momentarily take a back seat. After a couple of hours, though, it is time to move on and seek air conditioning.
That respite comes in the form of our tour director, Jason, saying, “It’s time to leave and get lunch.” the idea of ice tea sounds really good. Originally, our schedule called for our group to overnight in Xian but due to an airline schedule change, we altered our plans to fly in and out the same day. So the day is mainly geared to visit the Terra Cotta Soldiers. Once we finish lunch, there is barely enough time for a quick thirty minute visit to the Xian City Wall, drive to the airport to eat and catch the next flight. Hectic, but well worth the visit to see the Terra Cotta Soldiers.
Beijing Photo Gallery
Sam's Journal- Day 3 Beijing
Jul 15.
Our third day posts up morning visit to a park near the Temple of Heaven to see locals partaking in Sunday morning exercises, a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a quick walk through the Summer Palace, and then an Imperial cuisine dinner.
Sam's Journal- Day 2 Beijing
Jul 14
Next day the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. We end the day with a Peking Duck dinner at Dadong and birthday cake to celebrate Rick’s and Bruce’s birthdays.
Sam's Journal- Day 1 Beijing
Jul 13. The California contingent has dinner at a restaurant nearby the hotel. A walk through the night market. The Michigan flight is on time and the Hughes’ arrive at the hotel about 11 p.m.
Departure from Sacramento
My family is looking haggard after burning the midnight oil for the past few days getting prepared to leave for China. After a couple of hours sleep, we pile into the hired car for a two hour drive from Sacramento to San Francisco International Airport to catch an eleven a.m. flight to Beijing. Flight time is estimated to be ten hours, forty minutes. The contingent from Michigan has a much more trying schedule: Drive from Muskegon to Grand Rapids. Fly from there to Chicago. Change planes for a flight to Beijing with a stopover in Narita (Tokyo’s International airport), Japan.