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My China sojourn

By Fred Jansohn (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-05-20 09:09

For years China has had a fascination for me. In 2003 I read a book called 1421: The Year that China Discovered the World. The book told of two Chinese fleets: one that journeyed to America, and the other that circumnavigated the globe, long before the attributed European explorers (Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan respectively).

Fred Jansohn [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In February of this year I flew to China from Sydney, Australia, for what I have since described to all my friends as the holiday of a lifetime. Sure it was winter time, and sure it was cold, occasionally very cold, but I had done my research and was well rugged up against the elements. Indoors I had no problems because all hotels in which I stayed, or places I visited, were well heated.

Over the course of 10 days I landed in, and toured, major sites of Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. In Beijing I stood in Tiananmen Square, was taken through the Forbidden City, walked the Great Wall of Mutianyu, saw the silk and porcelain works; near Xi'an I visited a pottery factory and bought warrior souvenirs before visiting the awesome site of the Terracotta Warriors, toured various temples including the Mosque and Xi'an markets; in Shanghai I was taken on a complete tour of the famous Bund, the exquisite Yuyuan Gardens, the famous temple during its busiest time of the year (last day of the Spring Festival), markets, and the Shanghai Museum.

Most flights were with Air China, except for a flight between Beijing and Xi'an, which was with Henan Airlines. Whilst services on all flights were good, trouble-free and punctual, Henan Airlines offered a level of service in which even economy class patrons were made to feel like First Class passengers.

In all the Chinese cities I visited my female tour guides were very helpful. I was most impressed with how polite and courteous they were, and how well educated and knowledgeable each was in the very complex history of China and of the sites I visited. In fact at times I suffered from "information overload". I came away from this trip feeling emotionally, culturally and spiritually enhanced. And of course I had to fall in love—with my first tour guide. Of all the tour guides, she represented to me the essence of the people of China, its ancient and modern history, its defeats and its victories, its determination to adapt to the new social and industrial order; and to the exhilarating capacity of the Chinese people to embrace life and to live it to its absolute fullest.

Health, finances, and (my) God willing I shall return again next year and continue my exploration of this magical, mysterious Kingdom of China.

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