Tag Archives: Beijing

Team Youngcare Meets The Great Wall

Posted on by
Reply

Blog 2: Youngcare Great Wall Trek 2012

After another brilliant night at our Hutong hotel (minus the hourly phone calls from 1am to 7am in my room) we hopped back on the bus and headed out, out, out of the big bad city and deep into the foothills northeast of the city. Slowly but surely the cosmopolitan sites and sounds of downtown Beijing faded away into low rise apartments and small shops until disappearing completely into farmland, forest, and single-lane roads that wound up and up into the mountains.

Our first stop was the Qing tombs, where some new-age mini buses literally zoomed us into the labyrinth of underground resting places that once housed China’s last great emperors, their wives, and concubines. As you descend deep into these monolithic tombs the cold air sweeps over you, a reminder of just how thick the marble walls are.

After a fantastic lunch sitting around the worlds largest lazy Susan it was onward to take our first steps on the Great Wall! The bus chugged up and up to the entrance, where we made our 37th toilet stop of the day, made sure we had Judy, listened to another 3 innuendos from Leanne, and decided to follow Glenn’s matching neon orange watch and shoes up to the wall.

Before we started Bronwyn offered up two amazing ways to be reminded of what brought us here. Each morning and night a few committed trekkers will be telling the group what inspired their journey. We will also be passing the Youngcare flag between us. It has already been photographed widely! Combined with the evening handover of the “Inspired” bracelets, this is a very charity-focused, goal-oriented group!

Now it’s dinner in the dining hall before we watch the sun set over the Great Wall from the central courtyard of our charming guesthouse. We know, you definitely wish you were here!

GO TEAM!

Kyle

More from the Youngcare Great Wall Trek 2012

Read more trip stories from China or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

Youngcare Team China Group Photo Through Beijing

Posted on by
Reply

Blog 1: Youngcare Great Wall Trek 2012

“Group photo,” I shout, jutting my arms outward to indicate where, exactly, the group needs to stand. These eleven fundraisers line up, smack on their cheesiest grins, and have their photo snapped yet again in front of another of Beijing’s expansive historic sites. It is an exercise we will repeat numerous times over the next nine days and one that, despite the minor whinging, the group actually enjoys. Especially when I ask them to jump!

Team Youngcare in Beijing

Af a leisurely morning exploring the maze of local Hutong neighborhoods that surround our tucked-away hotel, we hopped on the bus with Mr. Lee, Jessi, and Alan en route for Tian’anmen Square. Nearly 1 square kilometre, Tian’anmen can hold more than 500,000 people! That is the population of Perth. It’s immensity was staggering as was the incredible interest in taking photos with our very own Leanne. She seems to be this group’s “diva” and none of us really think she minds.

Team Youngcare in BeijingIt was then onward to the Temple of Heaven, whose temples are once again hidden deep within protective outer walls and extensive gardens that stretch in every direction. Beyond the spectacular temples, what really makes the Temple of Heaven so brilliant is the throngs of locals who make wonderful use of all the space. In one area a large group of men and women sing Chinese classics. In another, two men lean in closely as their game of Chinese chess heats up. They slam the pawns down on the table as their respective posses, formed into a packed semi-circle, offer never ending advice and moral support. Further along the path a group of women knit together while, nearby, couples practice waltzing – the most elegant activity the Chinese take part in. It is an eclectic, eye-opening view into real people and always a highlight of our trip.

From here we moved on to dinner, diving into two very hot pots of classic Sichuan cuisine. This do-it-yourself dinner is always highly enjoyable. Ths time it was magnified by our surprising Bronwyn with a birthday girl crown, giant cake, and GIANT knife with which to cut the cake. Is there any better way to ring in the big 2-5 (I was told to say that)?

acrobats in beijingWe finished the day with a spectacular acrobatics show that had us pinned to our seats in mutual anticipation and fear. My goodness, some of tha acts they take on are stressful even to watch much less perform!

Thankfully, we made it safe and sound back to the hotel with all 11 participants intact. Why thankfully? Because we may have accidentally left Judy at the restaurant and completely forgotten her for, oh, 10 minutes or so. It was definitely Bronwyn’s fault. Definitely. Wait, she is the birthday girl. Okay, it was definitely Leanne’s fault. Definitely. It’s off to bed now as we have a very big day ahead of us tomorrow.

GO TEAM!

Kyle

More from the Youngcare Great Wall Trek 2012

Read more trip stories from China or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

TIC: This is China, Animals Asia style

Posted on by
1

Blog 7: 2012 Animals Asia Australia China Moon Bear Challenge

After several tough days out on the Great Wall covering more than 50km in pounding heat and humidity, we were ready for the relative luxury of our Beijing hotel combined with a touch more history, culture, nightlife, and delicious food!

Our in-city motto is TIC: This Is China! It is with that attitude that we are now approaching every bit of excitement that comes our way. As I explained to the group on day one, the irony of China’s centralized government and economy is that you are actually free to do whatever you want as long as it isn’t dangerous or harmful to others.

We started yesterday with a visit to the vast Summer Palace, where we wandered along the massive man-made lake alongside the nattering souvenir vendors and in-awe Chinese tourists. The air was heavy and the skies were dark but we chalked it up to TIC and carried on.

This morning we arose post-nightlife exploration and made our way to the northern Hutong, or lane ways, to saddle up on bicycles and do as the locals do – bumble along through the back roads and take in the sites, smells, and tastes of the ancient small-town Beijing that lies in the shadows of the ever-present modern skyscrapers.

Along they way we literally just stumbled upon a coffee shop that is a committed supporter of Animals Asia! The outside billboards were advertising how to become a supporter and the inside walls were lined with photos, stories, and testimonials of the issue of bile farming and the work that Animals Asia does. It was completely fortuitous and a brilliant surprise.

 

Donghuamen Night Market: rows and rows of unusual food stalls & delicacies

After a few hours of free exploration time we reunited for a Kung Fu martial arts exhibition followed by a visit to Donghuamen street food night market, where we noshed on dumplings, skewered vegetables, and toffee-glazed fruit. “I love this place,” Mehri declared. How couldn’t you?

To close the night (and our time in Beijing) we had a truly THIS IS CHINA moment, riding in a motorbike taxi back to our hotel. As you can see, our driver was overjoyed to have his photo taken with our resident Kiwis Debby and Erin.

This is China: Debby & Erin are not in New Zealand anymore!

Tomorrow it’s onward to Chengdu where we will briefly visit the Panda sanctuary before spending a brilliant final day at the Animals Asia center. Will the excitement never end?

GO TEAM!

More from Animals Asia China Moon Bear Challenge: 

Read more trip stories from China or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.