|
 -
June / July 2003
Inside this edition:
Artists' Community on the Outskirts of Beijing
|
The artists?village in Tongzhou Song Zhuang is such a special place. It seems that nearly 100 like minded people all got together and built the perfect environment for being creative. Everyone there was so relaxed; we just wondered around, talking with the artists who explained some of their new work to us. One artist, Zi Heng, had just completed some amazing paintings combining modern and ancient methods of painting; and we were lucky enough to see him start his latest creation. At lunch time we all sat down in the courtyard to enjoy a traditional Chinese meal and chatted with some of the artists over lunch. It was refreshing to get out of the city and learn so much about China’s new generation of artists.
|
| 
| 
|
| Students enjoy a cup of tea while browsing through various artwork
| The sun filters into a secluded courtyard
| Students listen intently to an artist explaining his work
|
| 
| 
|
| One of the art studios visited
| Work of artist Zi Heng
| A pleasant chat in the courtyard
|
Forbidden City
|
The Forbidden City was just brilliant, it’s impossible not to be blown away by its sheer size and fascinating history. Going through the entrance you pass under a huge painting of Chairman Mao and through the largest doors we had ever seen. The exterior walls are 10 meters high, and with a 52 meter wide moat you really get the feeling that this compound must have been totally cut off from the rest of the city. Some of us chose to use the recorded guide; we put on head phones and listened to the history of the Forbidden City as we walked from building to building. Others just chose to enjoy the peace and quiet; the spaces are so vast you don’t really get caught up in the crowds. Over two hours of wondering the Forbidden City and we still had not reached the end. The compound covers an area of over 720,000 square meters and over 9,000 rooms! When we left via the main entrance we all walked onto Tian An Men square and compared stories of what we had seen inside. What a brilliant day.
|
Soccer Fever
|
Real Madrid coming to town was without doubt the highlight of Beijing's sporting calander this year. Roads were closed and the white Real Madrid shirts were sold out days before the game (even the fake versions!). Rumours were flying around the city about where Beckham would be eating and sleeping. Everyone wanted to see Beckham, the other super stars were left in the shade. We had bought our tickets very early and paid the asking price of 380rmb (which were the second cheapest). By the time we were walking into the stadium, to watch the team practicing before the game, we were being offered 1,000rmb for our seats!
Inside the atmosphere was more like a circus than a soccer match, everyone just waiting for something to happen. It didn't matter which side was going to win, the Chinese were cheering for the visitors just as loud as their home team. It was really special to be part of the 60,000 very sporting and extremely excited Beijing crowd. Real Madrid dominated the game. Highlights included Beckham's free kick which prompted a brilliant save from the Chinese goal keeper, then later into the second half when Chinese striker Shen Si beat the Real Madrid goal keeper and hit the post the crowd jumped up screaming and came down crying. Beckham and the team flew on to Japan the following day. The hotel room at the Beijing International where Beckham stayed was rented out the next day (untouched and unwashed!) for 3800rmb. His slippers fetched 2000rmb each, and one lucky boy sold his signed football to a business man for 26,000rmb.
|
Dinner at 'Hancang' Restaurant
|
The Hakka restaurant is located on the shores of the ever popular Houhai Lake in central Beijing. Hakka cuisine (a minority group originating in the southwest of China, is one of the most famous styles in the country. The restaurant, called 'Hancang', was opened by a very poor local artist who is poor no longer. The food was gorgeous, paper wrapped fish and sizzling beef and tofu were the highlights of this mouth watering evening. We all enjoyed some Hakka rice wine served hot from a tea pot and had a toast with some friends we made on the neighboring table. The menu had some very adventurous dishes that no one would dare to order, frogs, sparrows and pigs ear. After the meal we all went for a walk around the lake and got a real insight into what life in Old Beijing must have been like.
|
|
|
|
|
| Enjoying the food: Jennie, Brigitte, James, David, and Andrew
| Hakka food: Foil wrapped fish and steamed vegetables with pickles
| Traditional decoration of the restaurant
| Taking a walk after dinner: Emerson & Dwi
|
Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling
|
Honorary Chairman Of the People's Republic Of China
On July 9th WLE students visited the Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling, number 46 Hou Hai Bei Yan. The residence features an exhibition illustrating Soong Ching Ling's life, with displays divided into sections of her life spread throughout several rooms. The life of Soong Ching Ling (Mme. Sun Yatsen), 1893-1981, is like a panorama of modern Chinese history. This was her residence as Vice-Chairperson of the People's Republic of China and here, on her deathbed, she was named its Honorary President. In old China the residence was a garden of one of the Qing Dynasty princes?mansions, and the birthplace of China's last emperor (Pu Yi). In new China, it was Soong Ching Ling's official residence and home for her last 18 years, as arranged by the late Premier Zhou Enlai.
|
|
|
|
|
| Nicolai, Janice & Denise enjoy the lush gardens of the residence
| In front of Soong Ching Ling's study room
| One of the many courtyards at the residence
| Smile Nicolai!
|
Great Wall
|
The Mu Tian Yu section of the Great Wall is just spectacular. We left on the World Link bus early on Sunday morning so we could start our assent of the Wall before it got too hot. The hike to the Mu Tian Yu section is quite a challenge, by the time we reached the top we were all sweating and out of breath. We considered taking a donkey to the top, for only 20rmb it seemed like a bargain! But we all persevered and made it to the top on our own. And it was well worth the journey, the view from the top is just breath taking.
It took over a million people to construct the Great Wall and at the time the population of China was only 6 million people. China considered itself the middle kingdom and everyone outside was a potential threat. The wall was built to keep out the potential threat and protect their civilization. It was easy to lose track of time while taking in this amazing construction. Everyone should see the Great Wall of China.
|
|
|
|
|
| The two Davids, Tony, Chris, Michael, JD and Nicholai have a laugh on the Wall at Mu Tian Yu
| Tony dons his Vietnamese hat before his long assent up the North face of the Great Wall
| David can't help but smile
| Students JD, David, Tony, Michael, Chris and Nicholai celebrate reaching the Wall after a long and hot assent
|
« BACK
| |
|
Print Page
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)