China

On my wonderful Grand Asia and Pacific Voyage,I had the opportunity to meet so many interesting people and view different cultures.China was extraordinary. I was able to leave the ship and travel to Beijing and Xian,then rejoin the ship in Shanghai

The Forbidden City in Beijing was vast and rather stark.In the 250 acres there is not one tree. The emperors did not want any place a conspirator might hide or whisper.This 9000 room palace was the home to 14 emperors over 491 years until 1911.In the Forbidden City interesting names prevail:the Square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony,The Palace of Heavenly Purity,the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, and the Hall of Mental Cultivation.Perhaps we should rethink some names for Washington Buildings and Institutions.

Traveling to the Great Wall of China was a highlight.Sections of the Wallwere built by warring states more than 2700 years ago to protect their territiory.The walls had a total lenth of 13,000 miles.There are stations along the way where smoke was used to signal sights of enemy encroachment.

The wall became a symbol of ancient China but was not particularly effective.As an example,Manchu Qing marched through the gates of the Sanhai pass and was able to replace the most ardent of the wall bulding dynasties,the Ming,as the ruler of China.