On 10/25, I did a trip to China that was basically a long trip by Plane, Train, Bus, cruise ship, and by boat. I was in a group of about 30 people, arriving in Beijing, then by train to Xian, plane to Chongquing, then down the Yangtze, and then another plane to Shanghai. The whole trip was 12 days counting flying in and out from CA. The package was with gate1travel.com who did an excellent job with our planning and their guide was top notch.
Arrival - got into Beijing after the 12 hour flight, -
and once through customs on the way to the tour bus - standing outside, taking in what would seem familiar. Being slightly disoriented from the flight, listening to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" played by flute over the loudspeakers as I boarded the bus. This picture was taken at 5PM local time, outside it was almost 65 degrees - one thing that was soon to become a common theme was smog - there is a lot of it there
1st full day out was a trip to Tiananmen square followed by a trip to the Summer palace. On the bus ride over, Duan the tour guide gave us Americans a "lets get a few things straight speech"
Tour guide Duan is a 35 Y/O Chinese citizen that grew up in Beijing and went to college in the USA as a guest of a major Bank. His parents were Party officials. It was interesting to hear his perspective on the student uprising.
Duan with Jeanne Sr.
He claims he was there when the military came down to quell the uprising and the one picture that shocked the world
didn't even occur there, on that day or ever. he insists that his country was the target of an international smear campaign to make China look bad.
On the way over:
I was still taken aback by all the smog there - this was 10AM when the last pic was taken.
On the way in to the city - a few things were becoming apparent besides the smog - Chairman Mao everywhere along with huge crowds
more to follow