Sundown view of a futuristic area of Shanghai: Pudong

For those of you who have traveled here since 2013, the future has unfolded in unprecedented ways:  completed towers, additional lighting, sightseeing tours, and, perhaps, total occupancy of a complex that might have seemed spacious to begin with but now is at capacity.  I don’t know the future of Shanghai.  No one does.  But, at present, it makes me want to return once more to see what’s going on in my lifetime and only guess at what the future holds.

For more entries in this week’s DailyPost Weekly Photo Challenge: Future, click here.

For more photos in this week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge:  On the Move, click here.

Shops are open into the night in Shanghai’s Yuyuan Gardens district — and the people love strolling, watching little dramas, listening to music, eating on the run, and shopping!

Some of the prettiest historic buildings line the street facing the waterway in the area known as The Bund in Shanghai.

Illuminated boats cast colorful reflections on the Huangpu River in Shanghai. In the background is the Pudong area where new buildings light the night.

A family willingly posed for a picture standing in front of the illuminated buildings in The Bund.

One family wanted us to take a picture of the lighted headbands they just purchased for the children from vendors hawking everything from flashlights to noisemakers.

If you want to see more entries in this week’s challenge Travel Theme: Illuminated, head over to Ailsa’s blog Where’s My Backpack? by clicking here.

Each day, we post three photos on one of the color themes required by the challenge:  blue, yellow, white, green and red.  At the end of the week, we’ll take your suggestions and select one of each color to submit.  Please vote by leaving a message in the Comments section at the bottom of this post or on Facebook.  And thanks to all of you who have done so!

If you’ve missed the first two, here are links to those posts:

BLUE: http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/09/22/help-us-decide-capture-the-colour-2013-blue/

YELLOW: http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/09/23/help-us-decide-capture-the-colour-2013-yellow/

TODAY’S VOTE: WHITE

And here are today’s entries for the category WHITE.  (There are FOUR this time — we had a hard time deciding!)

1. Stonecutter in Nepal

When we joined a team from Knoxville to build stone and mud houses in Nepal for Habitat for Humanity International, we met several men busy at work planning the foundation, finding the right stones, digging the mud for the mortar, and cutting the cornerstones.  This stonecutter remained quietly aloof for about three days as he wasn’t sure what to make of us.  But as I “talked” to him using facial expressions and hand gestures, he warmed up to me and even allowed me to hand him suitable stones.  When he nodded that I could finally take his picture, I didn’t hesitate.  This photo, of a stonecutter dressed in white, remains one of my prize takeaways from the experience.

2. Southern Magnolia in Full Bloom

Sometimes the best pictures can be found in your own backyard.  This creamy white magnolia blossom showing off its ever-increasing shades of brown as it reaches maturity just begged to be photographed.

3. Terra Cotta Warriors Facing the Light of Day

In Xian, China, unearthed Terra Cotta Warriors are housed in an enormous windowed structure resembling an airport hangar. When we visited, natural morning light was just beginning to stream into the room, changing the stoic, stone gray figures to white sentinels ready for visitors in awe of this amazing archaeological find.

4. Reconstruction

At the site of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses is  an area called “the hospital” where shards are put together like an enormous 3-D puzzle.  As pieces form warriors or horses, the reconstructions (like this one standing in the white light) may be able to stand on their own, as if they are waiting for someone to find the final pieces to make them whole again.

P. S. Please leave us a comment below and vote for your favorite!  Check back tomorrow for our GREEN entries.  Thanks!

Rusha and Bert Sams

Some of the sunniest things that happen in the blogosphere is that you get to meet creative, interesting people.  Like Anne who writes Tales Along the Way.  Anne has been living in India for six months and now writes about her experiences. But look for a variety of posts on other topics, too, on her blog.  I’ve enjoyed reading her posts, especially since we visited Nepal and India only one year ago. Her greeting/closing of Namaste brings back so many fond memories.

Anne has nominated our blog for the Summer Sun Award, and to thank her, we’ll follow her lead by answering questions and nominating others.

You can visit Anne at http://talesalongtheway.com.

Award Rules:

1. Display the Summer Sun Award medallion and link back to the blog from the person who nominated you.

2. Answer the questions.

3. Nominate a further lucky eight recipients (one for each ray of sun).

Questions and My Answers:

1. Favorite song with summer in the title or lyrics: Summer in the City by The Lovin’ Spoonful

2. Favorite summer book: (of all my summer reads) The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy and (this summer) Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

3. Favorite summer film: (of all time) Jaws and (this summer) Mud

4. Favorite summer memory: Our son’s wedding on the beach at Pawleys Island, South Carolina

5. Favorite summer destination: China — Viking River Cruise from Beijing to Shanghai

6. Books included in my suitcase: (on my Kindle) The Light Between Oceans: A Novel by M. L. Stedman, And the Mountains Echoed: A Novel by Khaled Hosseini, and The Boys in the Boat: Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

7. Next likely destination: Idaho (for business and pleasure) and France (to see more than just Paris!)

8. What hottie would I want to share the summer with: My husband, of course!

Congratulations to my eight nominees:

1. Clicky Chick Creates: http://clickychickcreates.com/

2. TNLOVESLIBRARIES: http://tnloveslibraries.wordpress.com

3. Peripatetic Eric: http://peripateticeric.wordpress.com/

4. thebestdressup: http://thebestdressup.com/

5. The World Is a Book: http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/

6. Travels and Trifles: http://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/

7. Northwest Frame of Mind: http://nwframeofmind.com/

8. Gallivance: http://gallivance.net/

May the end of summer bring you great memories and a forward look to a beautiful fall!

Rusha and Bert Sams

If you attend the Beijing Opera, you’ll be given an opportunity (prior to the opening act) to leave your table or seat in the audience and stand at the edge of the stage.  There, you’ll get an inside look at how a character in the opera applies his make-up and, with the aid of a dresser, layers on the lavishly embellished clothing worn during the performance.  It’s a rare glimpse of how the inside preparations become an extension of the signature pomp and pageantry of the world-famous Beijing Opera.

With great care, the performer applies the intricate make-up for his character.

A dresser ties on the undergarments.

Next come the ornate outer garments.

The waistline piece adds the finishing touch.

And the fully dressed performer stands ready for a night at the opera.

For more entries in the Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside, click here.

A glimpse of the many people (with umbrellas on this hot day) at the Great Wall at Badaling.

The Wall’s greatness was evident to us the minute we turned in to the parking lot for the many tour buses and visitors at Badaling.  It’s the place where history, culture, and magnificence all come together in China at one iconic landmark.  As we wrote about China’s Great Wall in our first post (What’s so great about the Great Wall?), we stood in awe at the construction of the wall forming what is metaphorically referred to by many writers as a lumbering dragon that curves, swaggers, and rests along the ridges as protection from invading forces.

But there was more to our visit to the Great Wall.  And that’s where Part II comes in. What’s so great about the Great Wall besides the wall itself?  For us, it was the people — the people who made the trip to pay homage, sight see, or just check the wall off on their bucket list.

The Great Wall is a destination for families, hikers, couples, singles.  From all over the world, people plan trips to see even a small section of this never-to-be-duplicated-again Chinese landmark and to take pictures reveling in the fact that they “made it” to their go-to place.

We watched as some families pulled little ones up by their arms, dangling short legs made weak by the climb.  But with the determination that the whole family would scale The Wall, moms and dads cajoled, bribed, and encouraged until the goal could be reached.

Some folks literally ran with their little ones, a fact that didn’t escape us as we paused frequently just to catch our breath!  (The Great Wall is not for the faint of heart, we came to understand.)

We noticed, too, the young people — what they wore (some in Western attire), how they talked on their phones (Yes, there’s evidently cellphone service on The Wall!), and how they snapped pictures of each other at every turn.

Two young girls enjoyed posing for us. Note the Western logos and writing as well as the cute accessories — sunglasses, stockings, etc. They were having so much fun!

To protect themselves from the unrelenting sun, most people came prepared.  Umbrellas (plain or frilly) were the shields of choice, but also popular were foldable hats, sunglasses, and various face coverings.

Backpacks filled with bottled water, lunches and snacks, cameras, and washcloths made their way up the Great Wall, too, and families spread picnics wherever there was a level spot. Climbing the wall could be an all-day affair if your goal was to reach a distant watch tower or just one of the many jut-outs where people stood and pointed and talked about the scenery ahead.

And so, the greatness of the wall becomes the triumph of the people.  The people who love their own country, the people (like us) who love visiting, and the people who “made it” to the point on the wall that was their goal for the day.

For whatever reason the people came, we noted one almost-universal feeling — that sense of accomplishment for seeing the Great Wall up close and personal!

Have you been to the Great Wall?  If so, we’d love to hear your impressions.  Please leave us a comment below.

And if you’re interested in reading more about our trip to China, just click here or on the China tab at the top of this page.  You’ll find a listing of our posts about this wondrous country.

People from all over the world visit the Great Wall of China.

It’s probably on the bucket list of everyone who has ever dreamed of visiting China.  After all, it’s listed in the World Cultural Heritage Directory by UNESCO and named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  So, of course,  the Great Wall was on our bucket list, too.  We wanted to see it, climb it, photograph it, and experience “The Wall” just like everyone else.

The tour guide on our Viking River Cruise didn’t even need to build it up for our travel group as we rode the bus to our destination. Excitement mounted on its own as we caught glimpses of towers and portions of the wall on our one-hour drive out of Beijing to Badaling, one of the restored — and most visited — sections of the Great Wall.  But he did give us some background along the way.

The Great Wall stretches approximately 5500 miles and almost six meters (20 feet) wide to accommodate five horses galloping abreast.  Originally built to withstand attacks from Mongolian marauders, the Great Wall consists of snaking walkways made of layers of rammed earth, stone, and brick interrupted by strategically placed watchtowers.  The actual building of the wall spanned nearly 2,000 years from the Warring States Period (476 BC – 221 BC) to the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644).

Since Badaling is known as the most visited section, we knew there would be others stepping, hiking, sweating, and arduously pushing onward right alongside of us.

Most groups gathered in the plaza area surrounded by stalls and shops to take a group photo before the climb. We did, too.  And then we were off.

A tour group pauses before hiking The Great Wall for a picture to capture the moment.

My personal goal was to make it to the third watchtower in our allotted time so as to have the best shot possible of the area around me.  And I did.  (No small task, I might add, considering the 95+ degree weather,  steep steps, and undulating pathways.)

I made it! Look to your right — third tower at the top!

The Chinese have made this section at Badaling a bit more tourist-friendly with the addition of hand rails and mounted lights that (I suppose but can’t confirm) make the wall even more outstanding at twilight.

Steep stairs are made easier to negotiate with the addition of hand rails and, when needed, mounted lights on the sides of the wall.

Bert and I climbed, paused to catch our breath, took pictures, and watched the people who came in droves.  Some as families. Some as couples or singles.  And several even wanted to have their picture taken with us!!

The watchtowers provided much-needed shade to those of us unaccustomed to this activity in the full afternoon sun, so it was with much relief that we stood (cramped, but who cared?) for a few minutes before carefully climbing another few steps only to pause again. (“Pace yourself,” we kept saying!)

With breathtaking views of the countryside, we marveled at the expanse of the wall as well as the construction — brick by brick, piece by piece with an estimated toll of possibly a million who lost their lives during the construction.  It’s the enormity of this project and the link to the past that lures us all to see the Great Wall.  And for some of the people (according to our guide), a climb up the wall is akin to a religious pilgrimage of sorts.  I believe that — based on the smiles and the pointing and the hallelujahs heard and seen!

So, what’s so great about the Great Wall?  As astronaut Neil Armstrong remarked, the Great Wall is one of the few construction projects you can see from space — a testament to its size, unique purpose, and the people who gave their all to build, defend, and restore it.  It’s great all right.  And we hope you get to experience it, too.

If you’ve been to the Great Wall, post your impressions in the comments below.  We’d love to hear from you!

And if you want to see the people we saw, come back for our next post:  What’s so great about the Great Wall (Part II)?  Thanks for reading!

The people of The Wall were perhaps the second best part of the trip!

Click here to see more posts on China or go to the tab labeled China at the top of this page.

For more information:

Viking River Cruise: Imperial Jewels of China: http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/rivercruises/china-yangtze-beijing-shanghai-2013/itinerary.aspx

“Great Wall of China” by TravelChinaGuide:  http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/

A welcome respite from the afternoon sun and long walks through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City awaited us on our first full day in Beijing.  We were headed to the Summer Palace, a peaceful, expansive park complete with lakes, bridges, temples, walkways, and artwork. On the bus, our guide asked us if we would like to walk the Long Corridor, a walkway defined by hand-decorated beams and over 14,000 scenic paintings over the length of about two miles.  We hesitated, waiting to see if we were the only ones who might prefer a boat ride to a walk and found that we weren’t alone: no one chose the stroll!

So, when we arrived at the Summer Palace, we were greeted by a welcome sight:  a dragon boat to float us slowly across the placid Kumming Lake while we sat back and admired the idyllic scene of Qing Dynasty buildings and the people of China enjoying their summertime leisure activities.

Originally designed as a summer retreat from the confines of the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace was transformed between 1736 to 1795 to its current layout.  However, it was the Empress Dowager Cixi who had the complex rebuilt after the destruction by French and English troops in 1860 and then again in 1902 after the Boxer Rebellion exacted even more damage.

Pictured below, Longevity Hill with its octagonal, four-eaved Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha dominates the landscape with accompanying religious buildings, gardens, and shops. The Long Corridor stretches along the shore beneath.

A view of Longevity Hill from the dragon boat

We strolled the grounds, purchased some items in a tucked-away antique shop, and watched as people enjoyed the breezes from the arched bridges and gathering areas.

One of the beautifully painted arched bridges at the Summer Palace

A painting of the Marble Boat, also known as the Boat of Purity and Ease, covers the structure currently undergoing renovation.  One of the extravagances of the Empress Dowager Cixi who used funds originally intended to improve the navy to build it, the boat was never meant to serve as a boat at all.  The Marble Boat, made of wood painted to look like marble, may be representative of an idea proposed by Wei Zeng: “the waters that float the boat can also swallow it” meaning that the people who support the emperor can also overturn him.  As a symbol of stability, the Marble Boat stands firm at the Summer Palace.

While undergoing renovation, this painting of the Marble Boat covers the actual structure.

Not all visitors were roaming the grounds or riding nonchalantly in the colorful dragon boats.  Some were using the quiet time under the trees for other activities.  We were amused with this family checking emails, playing with apps, and using technology —  just as we do in America!

Just one of many family activities at the Summer Palace!

The Summer Palace covers 716 acres, but even the small portion we saw — Kumming Lake and Suzhou Street — were well worth the visit.  No wonder it’s a star destination for locals and visitors alike.

If you want to learn more about our travels in China on a Viking River Cruise from Beijing to Shanghai, go to the top of this page and click on China in the green bar.  We hope you enjoy seeing this beautiful land through our eyes.

For more information:

Beijing & Shanghai (2011). Eyewitness Travel. New York: DK Publishing

“Marble Boat.” Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Boat

Viking River Cruise: Imperial Jewels of China: http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/rivercruises/china-yangtze-beijing-shanghai-2013/itinerary.aspx

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But not all hat guys, you understand, are thrilled to be in pictures.

The guy below, however, was.  He could be on late-night TV —  animated hijinks, inside/outside hat routine, connections with the crowd.

Five ways, he yelled. Watch this.  Five ways!  (In English, too!)

First, with this ordinary hat shape — good enough to keep the sun at bay.

Then with one quick flip . . .

. . . a whole new version! Tower look maybe?

We clapped and hollered and shouted, Again!

He smiled.  And fidgeted. And then one more!

One dollah, one dollah.  Hat.  Five ways.  One dollah! Five ways!

(He was faster at flip-changing his hat than I was snapping pictures!)

Now, who do you think would ever buy one of these crazy hats?

Well, all I can verify is they don’t travel so well in a packed suitcase! (Who cares? Well worth one dollah!)

To read more of our encounters in China, go to the top of this page and click China in the green bar! Thanks for reading!