Journey across China

Earthquake Zone

2008-08-24T01:14:00.000-07:00

Finishing our trip in Du Jiang Yan, a city not far from the epicentre of the 12th May Sichuan earthquake was a humbling experience. 7,000 people died alone in this city, 4,000 of them children in six schools that collapsed during classes. We had read the statistics before coming, 70,000 dead, 5 million made homeless and about the immense response from the Chinese people but we had not expected what we saw. Walking around a series of refugee temporary housing, we talked to people who were generally very friendly and happy to see us. The camps were well set up, extremely well in fact, much better than I have experienced in my 15 years covering conflicts and disasters around the world. Nearly every room had a TV and most were showing the Olympics. Rather than what we had thought would have been a negative reaction to the money being spent in Beijing, the people here seemed overjoyed at China's success.

Tonight we return home, tired but glad we embarked on this trip. Sitting in the stands at the beach volleyball in Beijing and looking down on the photographers rushing around to get the perfect sports picture I was glad I was on this journey and not with the other photographers. I guess my interest has always been people and this Olympics has had an enormous impact on the people of China. One student in Zhaoqing told me, "after these Olympics when someone asks me where I am from, I will be confident to tell them I am Chinese." This was the sentiment throughout the cities and towns we have visited. China will undoubtedly be stronger as a result.

What a Journey...

2008-08-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks of travel and storytelling have raised interesting questions for me. It has made me think about my future, China's future, the world's future. Its given me insights into a complex country and insights into the complexity of humanity. I've valued this experience greatly and hope to continue on the story telling path soon. I hope everyone who's followed our journey has enjoyed what they've seen and has learned something. I know I have....

Stuck in Guangzhou

2008-08-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

Typhoon Nuri upset our plans to get to the earthquake area as all flights were cancelled from Guangzhou yesterday. We are now waiting in an airport hotel for news of a flight to Chengdu.

No Electricity

2008-08-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

In the heat we have come to rely on fans and air conditioning but last night we had a black out and was left to sleep on the floor next to the windows. A hot and sticky night. Many Chinese still sleep with little to cool them, it's worrying to think that when this vast nation all ask for the basic luxuries we take for granted the planets energy consumption will sore.

Qingdao

2008-08-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

We came to Qingdao by D-express train from Beijing. It suppose take 4 hours but we spent 6, that means, we didn’t feel the real speed as our plan. Somebody said that because the project is not all finished but I think its for the security reason. I have been Qingdao couple of years ago and I can feel the difference when just walk out the train station.
Qingdao divided new town and old town and the new town looks beautiful and clean. It cost 3.3 billion RMB to build the training base for the Chinese team which to prepare the sail of Olympic Games since 7 years ago. Fortunately, Chinese sailor Yin jian got their first gold medal which creates the record and makes Qqingdao people so happy. They make color firecrackers to celebrate this moment. An old man stand next to me said, this gold metal balanced the expenses of the preparing on this games……

Ge'ermu - The city of...

2008-08-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well, there's really not much to say about Ge'ermu or Golmud as its spelled in English. Although getting escorted to our train by the worried police, it was an uneventful trip west. There's not much to do or see in this city besides desert, and salt. So, we took a drive to see both. Well... There you are... deserts.... and salt....

Olympic Climb

2008-08-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

After arriving in Zhaoqing I decided it would be useful to climb the local mountain for an establishing shot. At 37 degrees in 90% humidity it was not my best idea, but I made it and the view was worth it.

With its crag like peaks sticking out of large lakes Zhaoqing is a beautiful place. We are told we have been very lucky with the weather as in summer it is usually unclear.

Lego Olympics

2008-08-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

Came across this lego version of the Olympic park. Not like the real thing but as close as most people in Hong Kong will get to it.

Beautiful Xining

2008-08-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

This city is so diverse and is teeming with life. There's such an interesting mix of cultures and ethnicities. Religion is very important here. Xining has one of the largest mosques in western China, a very significant Tibetan buddhist monastery and a 1,700 year old Taoist temple called Beishan Si. We visited Beishan Si yesterday to get a view of the city. Wonder decided that he would claim the throne of the city.

Amazing View

2008-08-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

Arriving in Hong Kong

2008-08-17T19:41:00.001-07:00

Arriving into Hong Kong was a strange experience. The Special Administrative Region of China is both part of China and a very different country. Shu, my other team member and a Chinese national, had to apply for a special permit to enter whereas I, a British national, just needed my passport. A point that angered Shu considerably. “It’s like you having to apply for a permit to visit Manchester and yet people from other countries can enter without a problem” she tells me.

Crossing this small river is a simple and well organised experience as you pass from one world into another. A short walk but a very different atmosphere on the other side of the bank.

Xining

2008-08-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Xining last night and all I can say is THE WEATHER IS PERFECT!!! It's comfortable, not too hot during the day and not too cold at night! We're at about 10,000 feet and the sun is shining and the sky is blue.

After a day at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery we caught our taxi back to a nice hour long massage for about $5. Both Wonder and I fell asleep, oops. That relaxation, of course, had to be followed by a little stress at the train station and a gripping rickshaw ride back to the hotel. As you can see, I'm cool, calm, relax, whereas Wonder is looking a bit nervous.

20 little kids

2008-08-15T22:47:00.000-07:00

Who knew that by coming to Lanzhou, I'd have to give a talk about water pollution to a group of about 20 kindergartners... It was one of those experiences that really catches you off-guard but in the end is a lot of fun and is totally worth while. Kids are cool!

Down South

2008-08-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

Just arrived in Guangzhou in south China on route to hong kong. Its hot and sticky and we are ready for some sleep.

yang in wuhan

2008-08-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

9th Aug. 2008, Wuhan cloudy, 36°C.
Wuhan is famous by their hot and is called fire stove. We really feel this stove power when we got here but on the other hand, the local people have a way to avoid the heat.
"No more people sleep on the street as couple of years ago", the taxi driver said, who toke us from airport to downtown, "there were people go out early like 3, 4 o’clock afternoon to occupy their outside space of home to put the bamboo bed in the street and everybody has one spa."
An other way to get over the heat is sink in the water. More people come to the river if the weather is hotter. A place near Qingchuan bridge is their favorite swimming pool, Wu Bing, a swimmer said, there are full of people normally but they go home to watch TV on Olympic Games recently, also the weather is not too hot (for them!).
After shooting, we also enjoy to their team and had a great swimming in the warm water of this river.

yang in shanghai

2008-08-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

One thought is that, it will be many inconveniences during Olympic Games but everything is the same in Shanghai. It looks like no any influence to Shanghai’s normal life.
According to the requirement of Government, all the DVD movie shops were closed and nobody could buy any DVD for two weeks since 15th July. At this weekend, all of those DVD store open again but you can not find any DVD which against copy right.
When I passing a rubbish recycle place 2 o’clock this morning，a collector site there very tired and drunk beer. He refused me to taking of his picture and said, doing this kind of work is no good face to the public and he avoids the police men. Tow police motorcycle coming at this moment but they didn’t do anything to him. Life continues…

Wonders attempt at flight.

2008-08-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

It's fitting that Wonder would have his first attempt at flying right in front of the Birds Nest. Although we'd hoped to get tickets to something inside that architectural marvel, we had no such luck. We were able to get close, but not inside. That didn't stop Wonder from trying to fly inside.

Wonder did manage to get some volunteers to photograph the inside with his camera-phone. Unfortunately we can't quite work out how to get the images off the phone, so those will be coming soon.

Picture Opportunity

2008-08-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

In the streets of the ancient walled city of Pingyao I found a good picture of a family dressing in traditional costume for their pictures. This is a common site in China but with the backdrop of an old bridge I thought it worth shooting. After a couple of frames I was spotted. I thought they were going to ask me to stop taking pictures, or pay for the privilege but rather they insisted I posed with each member of the family for a photograph. Before I could leave a crowd gathered and one by one I posed for pictures. I guess this is a photographer’s payback for all the people I have photographed on this trip.

Beijing and Phelps' 11th!

2008-08-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

Just got out of a swimming match! Wow, who knew it'd be so exciting. Lucky for us, Phelps won his 10th and 11th gold medals, which if I'm not mistaken, makes him the record holder for the most ever!

The Olympic green is really something else... The Birds Nest and the Water Cube are fantastic! I've never seen anything like it...

No Sleep

2008-08-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

Chinese trains are usually very comfortable as long as you reserve a berth in a sleeper. We managed to get the soft sleeper which is as good as it gets on a local train for an overnight journey from Datong to Pingyao. This was to be my first good night’s sleep since starting the project and with no need to wake early to go and catch the good light I was quite excited.

Shu was in the bed above me and we had two ladies opposite us. After two hours at about 1 Am one of the Chinese ladies left and was replaced by a gentleman who must have had the loudest snore I have ever experienced, and just about one metre from my head. Another sleepless night! Listen to him ... snore.mp3

coal mine

2008-08-10T23:45:00.000-07:00

I was asked by our local Datong guide whether we preferred a tour of scenic spots or a trip down a coal mine. The choice was simple and two hours later we were sitting in an office at the Datong Coal Mine negotiating a price for joining a group of miners travelling 300 metres underground and then a further two miles underground to the coal face. Let’s be clear here, the trip was not specially organised for us, the mine has developed a tourist attraction by allowing visitors to experience the life of a coal miner, but this is very different to your usual Disney experience.

You are taken to a room to change into the same clothing the miners use then through a side door you join the queue of workers to be taken down the mine. It is as real as you get and an amazing experience. Once at the coal face you split off room the workers and are taken on a walking tour that introduces the different technologies used over the years ending up at a surreal gift shop. You then rejoin the miners, this time covered in soot, for the journey back to the surface. Altogether a fascinating way to spend the afternoon, the only drawback is that they are strict on no pictures so there is nothing to show for the experience.

picture: DJ and Shu about to descend.

Tai Chi In Datong Park

2008-08-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

Up at 6 AM in Datong and there is a lot of activity. With all the factories closed down to reduce pollution in Beijing the locals are enjoying unusually clear skies. The local park is full with people exercising, playing sports and out walking.

I take on some people playing badminton but make a fool of myself because the light wind keeps moving the shuttle and I keep missing it. That is my excuse anyway!

The Big Blue Thing

2008-08-10T07:32:00.001-07:00

No need for sunscreen we foolishly thought looking out of the window at a smoggy sky early yesterday morning. Catching the clean and well organised subway system to the Olympic park where the beach volleyball was being held the sun started to come through and after two matches my face was getting very burnt.

Again the organisation was impressive and very different from the China we are used too.

In the evening we went to the national stadium for a gymnastics sesion. After the Razzmatazz of the beach volleyball it seemed very quiet but good to watch all the same.

Lucky Number 8

2008-08-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

Shu arrived at the groom's house at 4 AM as I was still in Shenyang waiting for a flight to Beijing. Following all the rituals they finally made it to the reception by noon by which timeI had made it to the hotel to meet them. It was a strange mix of western and Chinese traditions, all watched by the relatives from Henan.

This was Shu's picture taken as the groom arived t the reception.

In Beijing!

2008-08-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

After getting through the SWAT team security checkpoint at the Dalian train station and an overnight ride on a comfortable sleeper train, we're in Beijing. Just within the first couple hours of being here I've noticed a buzz about the city. With Chinese flags on nearly every other shop, there are volunteers in blue shirts everywhere and nearly every bus stop and billboard is Olympic hype.