Trip to the Great Wall

Yesterday we had the opportunity to go to view the Great Wall of China. The BYU Alumni Association organized a trip for everyone at church that wanted to go. It was a wonderful trip. We traveled for about 2 hours by bus to a location North of Beijing. We got acquainted with a lot of people, many of whom have lived as here ex-pats for years. It was a very well planned activity with dinner, breakfast and church on Sunday. There is something to be said about being in the great outdoors, looking out at part of the Great Wall and having church. It was marvelous.
On Saturday night we had fireworks. We met in an amphitheater for some games and get acquainted activities. The fireworks exploded just above us. I was trying to get a picture, they really were beautiful, but the falling ashes startled me and messed up the picture.

Wangfuging Street

We were trying to find the Foreign Bookstore in Beijing and when we got to the area where it was located we were amazed at how beautiful it is. When we left the bookstore later and came out on the square we were dazled with the lights and how elegant the whole area looked.

Chinese National Museum

These are just of the items on display in the special exhibit. Some are thousands of years old and look wonderful.
The one that appears to have a flat, but slightly curved top was used as a pillow. Ouch!
The top picture is a replica of a wedding parade. In earlier times the bride would ride in a very elaborate processional to the wedding.

A look at campus

Here we are in front of the "old gate" which is no longer used officially but the most scenic of the gates. The gates that are used, there is one at every entrance to campus, have guards posted and aren't nearly as beautiful. This is a favorite photo spot for everyone.

We walk along this road going from our apartment to the university. It is a beautiful walk.

This is the entrance to the university presidents office. It is in a gorgeous area of campus.

Beijing is beautiful

I posted some pictures but the dialogue didn't post, so I will try again. We took our first subway ride ALONE and went to Tian'anmen Square. We did just fine. The subway is probably about a mile from our apartment. We are guessing, but it is a fair walk. All along our way people were most willing to help us. A kind family took a snap of us together in a park near Tian'anmen and then a little while later they asked to take a better one because it was a more scenic location. It is amazing how you can communicate without speaking.

Around Beijing