TRAVEL SCRAPBOOK of

SARA and MACK in

November 22 to December 1, 2000

MAP OF CHINA

First flew to Beijing from Los Angeles for 12 hours;

Then flew to Xi'an;

Then flew to Shanghai;

Then flew to San Francisco for 10 hours

THE NATIONAL FLAG OF CHINA

PART 1 -- TOUR IN BEIJING

Beijing, China with population of 12.59 million

Capital of China since 600 years ago

9 million bikers in that city alone

TIANANMEN SQUARE

INSIDE THE FORBIDDEN CITY: THE IMPERIAL RESIDENCE

THE  SUMMER PALACE OF THE IMPERIAL DYNASTY

THE EMPORER'S TOMBS OF MING DYNASTY (Chang Ling)

THE EMPORER'S TOMBS OF MING DYNASTY (Chang Ling)

THE GREAT WALL (Juyongguan Section)

VIEW FROM THE GREAT WALL TOP

m

THE TRIOS AT THE GREAT WALL TOP

Mack, Don and Janeen of Arizona out of 52 persons in

the group have climbed the Great Wall on steep mountains,

reached the top, and got a metal certificate.

METAL CERTIFICATE

TOURING AT THE CLOISONNE FACTORY

Cloisonne is an old established art in Asia.  Cloisonne enamel

was developed during the 10th century.  A glass enamel is

applied between small ribbons of metal on a metal base.

FINISHED CLOISONNE VASE

THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

The Temple of Heaven is China's largest existing temple complex.

It used to serve for the worship of heaven and celebration of

harvest by Ming and Qing Emporers.

FEEDING A BIRD AT THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

TOURING AT THE PEARL FACTORY

Black pearls found in fresh-water oysters.

SHOPPING AT THE PEARL FACTORY

Betty, Sara & June

ACROBATS SHOW -- PICTURE #1

ACROBATS SHOW -- PICTURE #2

PANDA AT BEIJING ZOO

Panda is part of the rodent family -- not the bear one.

City tour guide Marc (left) with sign language interpreter Joy Goodson

PART 2 -- TOUR IN XI'AN

Xi'an, China with population of 6.62 million

As one of the six ancient capitals in China, Xi'an served as the seat of

12 imperial capitals for 1,120 years and also a world-famous tourist city,

a treasure house of cultural relics.

Dust and coal smoke fill the city air.

THE GREAT TERRA COTTA WARRIORS OF 2,200 YEARS AGO

For a long time, when the emperors died, slaves were killed and buried with them.

Until Qin Shi Huang became an emperor, he stopped the practice.

In 1974, some peasants digging a well by chance uncovered one of the greatest

archaeological sites in the world. During his reign (from 247 BC until July 210 BC),

Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China built himself a mausoleum with more than

8000 terracotta warriors guarding his dead body, not two of them looking the same.
There are four main category of figures, chariot warriors, infantry men, cavalrymen,

and horses. There are generals, middle ranking officers, lower ranking officers,

ordinary soldiers and armoured warriors. The latter can be further divided, according

to their headgear into warriors with a square scarf, a cylindrical bun, a flat bun

and kneeling warriors (crossbowmen).  The terra-cotta warriors and horses

are acclaimed as the "eighth wonder of the world."

CLOSE-UP FACE OF LIFE-SIZE WARRIORS

CHARIOT WITH HORSES OF 2,200 YEARS AGO

CLOSE-UP FACE OF A CHARIOT DRIVER

HUA QING HOT SPRINGS -- PICTURE #1

The Huaqing Hot Spring are to be found in a large park containing a number of

public baths and some modern palaces built in the Tang style. The hot springs, rich

in minerals, were highly regarded more than 3000 years ago. The Tang Emperor

Xuanzong often spent the winter here.

HUAQING HOT SPRINGS -- PICTURE #2

HUAQING HOT SPRINGS -- PICTURE #3

HUAQING HOT SPRINGS -- PICTURE #4

June (left, standing), Lily (left, seated, China tour director), Sara (right, seated),

and Betty (right, standing).  The red inscription on the rock says

"The scenery here is the best."

BANPO VILLAGE IN A MUSEUM

Banpo Neolithic Village was discovered in 1953, the remains of a village inhabited at

the time of about 4500 B.C. to 3750 B.C. by the earliest settlers in the area.

BANPO HOUSE INSIDE THE MUSEUM

COLORFUL TANG DYNASTY DINNER SHOW -- PICTURE #1

COLORFUL TANG DYNASTY DINNER SHOW -- PICTURE #2

TYPICAL CHINESE MEAL WITH SWIVELING TABLE

RICE IS THE ONLY GOOD FOOD.