At the ripe age of 26, I took a trip of a lifetime through China. I had spent the past several years traveling to Hong Kong for my job and on one particular trip, I decided to take an extra week for vacation to tour several cities in mainland China.
In the Spring of 1991, my childhood friend, Cheryl met me in Hong Kong, where she spent the last of my three week business trip with me, and from there, we began our China adventure to the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and the ancient capital, Xian. I kept a very detailed journal from start to finish of my awesome journey, nearly twenty-five years ago, and decided this would make a great travel series for Travelin' Cousins. Over the course of the next two months, I will post chronological segments of my journal on my respective Throwback Thursdays. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed re-living my trip! - Elisa
P.S.: We do not wish to offend anyone, but political correctness was not our thing as early twenty-somethings, so be warned.
In the Spring of 1991, my childhood friend, Cheryl met me in Hong Kong, where she spent the last of my three week business trip with me, and from there, we began our China adventure to the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and the ancient capital, Xian. I kept a very detailed journal from start to finish of my awesome journey, nearly twenty-five years ago, and decided this would make a great travel series for Travelin' Cousins. Over the course of the next two months, I will post chronological segments of my journal on my respective Throwback Thursdays. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed re-living my trip! - Elisa
P.S.: We do not wish to offend anyone, but political correctness was not our thing as early twenty-somethings, so be warned.
At Summer Palace - tired of walking
Monday, May 20, 1991, Beijing
I thought it would be smart to do a recap of our day thus far since it has been jam-packed with sightseeing. We left the hotel at 9:00 AM and by 11:40 we had toured the Forbidden City. It was sweltering hot, to say the least.
Although it wasn't on our scheduled tour, Harry, our guide took us to the Beijing Zoo so we could see the Pandas. There were three adults and one adorable little baby panda. They mostly slept and one was munching away on some bamboo.
I got very upset because the baby was outside, separated from his mommy, while she was inside eating lunch. It also bothered me that they were in captivity. The zoo as a whole was pretty inhumane. There was a tiger chained to a pole, which literally made me want to cry for his loneliness.
I thought it would be smart to do a recap of our day thus far since it has been jam-packed with sightseeing. We left the hotel at 9:00 AM and by 11:40 we had toured the Forbidden City. It was sweltering hot, to say the least.
Although it wasn't on our scheduled tour, Harry, our guide took us to the Beijing Zoo so we could see the Pandas. There were three adults and one adorable little baby panda. They mostly slept and one was munching away on some bamboo.
I got very upset because the baby was outside, separated from his mommy, while she was inside eating lunch. It also bothered me that they were in captivity. The zoo as a whole was pretty inhumane. There was a tiger chained to a pole, which literally made me want to cry for his loneliness.
  Beijing zoo and the baby panda |    Standing outside our Tour Bus |
On our way to lunch (yet another meal from hell), we passed the National Library of China, which is the biggest in all of China. We also drove by the Dentistry Institute. Harry was sharing all kinds of facts and information with us, including the history of Mahjong. It was outlawed in China for many years because of the gambling that ensued as a result. From 1949 until the late 1980's it was banned. Harry's own grandma was a gambler and his father doesn't allow anyone in the family to play mahjong today as a result.
A quick lunch at the Friendship Hotel and by 3:45 we were off to the Summer Palace, the summer retreat of the Empress Dowager (PuWi- "The Last Emperor's" - great aunt). I have to tell you, this was one of my favorite sights on this trip because of its scenic setting on the water. The original summer palace was built in the 12th Century, but was destroyed by the English and French forces in the 19th Century and now, only ruins remain. This place we visited was the re-located Summer Palace.
A quick lunch at the Friendship Hotel and by 3:45 we were off to the Summer Palace, the summer retreat of the Empress Dowager (PuWi- "The Last Emperor's" - great aunt). I have to tell you, this was one of my favorite sights on this trip because of its scenic setting on the water. The original summer palace was built in the 12th Century, but was destroyed by the English and French forces in the 19th Century and now, only ruins remain. This place we visited was the re-located Summer Palace.
The Chinese name for this place is called Yiheyuan, which means "The Garden of Harmonious Unity" and it was the summer residence of Empress Dowager Ci Xi. Twice during her governance, Western troops destroyed the site and twice she was forced to restore it back to splendor.
Kunming Lake, which surrounds the palace, occupies over three-quarters of the 716 acres of the palatial grounds. The pavilions, walkways, bridges and halls are surrounded by water and the hills.
I could not stop taking photographs and quite honestly, they did not do justice to what it looked like up close and in person. There was a huge gorgeous white marble boat at the bank of the water which was truly magnificent!
Kunming Lake, which surrounds the palace, occupies over three-quarters of the 716 acres of the palatial grounds. The pavilions, walkways, bridges and halls are surrounded by water and the hills.
I could not stop taking photographs and quite honestly, they did not do justice to what it looked like up close and in person. There was a huge gorgeous white marble boat at the bank of the water which was truly magnificent!
 Beautiful White Marble Boat  |   Dragon Boat Races |
On the grounds, there was also a prison in the garden which was used for the Empress's nephew. He planned to kill the Dowager and she found out. She punished him by keeping him confined to the residence prison, which was a house that prevented him from viewing the water in the summer.
This lovely place was an enchanting way to spend the afternoon!
And just so ya know, I wore my hat all day at the zoo and at the Sumer Palace - Cheryl hates these hats and refused to wear her's.
See you in two weeks for Part 9: Last Evening in Beijing.
- Elisa
This lovely place was an enchanting way to spend the afternoon!
And just so ya know, I wore my hat all day at the zoo and at the Sumer Palace - Cheryl hates these hats and refused to wear her's.
See you in two weeks for Part 9: Last Evening in Beijing.
- Elisa