Beijing Cultural Tour 2010

In June this year, 18 Year 7 and 8 students will be visiting Beijing, China. This trip has been organised to give those who missed last year's cancelled trip and any other suitable students, the opportunity to visit China. It will be an exciting opportunity for students as they visit The Great Wall, The Forbidden City and The Temple of Heaven. Our objective is to introduce students to the culture of China and to its ancient traditions. The study of the Chinese language is compulsory at Kristin from Kindergarten – Year 6; this skill and the first-hand knowledge gained on this trip, will benefit later studies in Humanities and Commerce subjects.

Click here for the schedule.

For more information, contact the Teacher-in-Charge.

International Trip Blog

Wednesday 23 June

Flight NZ087 was due to depart this evening from Auckland International Airport at 9.50pm, unfortunately it wasn't a good start for the group, with a three-hour delay. The students were not too down about this delay as they were each given $12 vouchers for food for their troubles.

After dinner we went through to departures. We met Jenny Shipley who stopped to asked the students questions. They weren't too sure of who she was but when prompted that she was a politician, they asked if she was a friend of John Key! Mrs Shipley was very friendly and accommodating when asked questions.

We have a long wait in the departure lounge before we board our plane, now departing at 1.00am. Everyone is fine and in need of some sleep.

Thursday 24 June
Day one has just finished for us.

After a long wait we finally took off from Auckland Airport. The students were very patient and they conducted themselves superbly and were complimented by the cabin crew. Two students were chosen to hand out lollies just before landing. On arriving we discovered that Mr Murray's suitcase had been badly treated by the baggage handlers. He went to the claims department to lodge a complaint and collect compensation. This delayed us further.

One of the first questions a student asked was, "Why can't we see the sun?"

We finally arrived at the hotel at 2:00pm.

After freshening up we departed for the Amusement Park and arrived after 3:00pm to discover that they had already closed. We returned to the hotel and had a snack and a nosey around the neighbourhood. We then went for a swim for 45 minutes. We went to a local restaurant for dinner where our students had no problem communicating with the locals sitting at the tables around us.

A lack of sleep will mean we start tomorrow's schedule a little later. Our visit to Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City will be an interesting one.

Friday 25 June
Everyone was very punctual and arrived for a sumptuous western breakfast. We were all delighted to hear the All White’s Football score as we couldn’t watch the game because it was not televised in China.

After breakfast we left on a short bus journey to Tiananmen Square which Mr Zhang told us means ‘Peaceful’.

The square was not very crowded which made it a pleasure. One of the highlights was queuing to enter the mausoleum where Mao Tse Tung is buried. We all marched past his body which is encased in glass - quite incredible as he died about 50 years ago. The security throughout the building was very tight. We took the obligatory photo in front of the entrance to the Forbidden City. Once again there were no crowds.

It has been very hot and everyone showed great stamina to endure the walking. We had lunch at an impressive food court called the Oriental Plaza (very original). The food was great and the students were given the opportunity to choose what they wanted. The selection included frogs which no one wanted to eat but the boys enjoyed looking at. There were also live scorpions on skewers. This too was passed, but looked at with intrigue.

We then went down Wangfujing Street, which is a well-known shopping street in Beijing. A few bargains were struck and the students showed great restraint as our first official shopping day is tomorrow.

This afternoon everyone thoroughly enjoyed a swim and this evening, a meal at a restaurant across the road.

Tomorrow is a visit to the Temple of Heaven. This will be fun; in the mornings the locals gather to do their exercises and will love it if we join in. The afternoon will be our first proper taste of the bargain market. There is much excitement about this.

The students are superbly behaved and they interact with the local population and are happy to oblige when their photos are taken.

Saturday 26 June
Day three began with everyone arriving promptly again for breakfast. We are beginning to establish a routine and the staff members are now familiar with all of our students.

It was much cooler in the early part of today. There were also no crowds which was a blessing. The Temple of Heaven is an interesting place. It is filled with local residents doing gymnastics, dancing, juggling, playing traditional instruments and singing. Our students joined the activities with enthusiasm much to the delight of the performers. We walked down the long road which was used only by the Emperor hundreds of years ago. We picnicked under some trees before going to the Pearl Market - after some detailed instructions, the frenzy began. Today was essentially to eye out the goods and the prices, however the students could not resist what they considered bargains. On their return, our families will no doubt be enthralled by the tales they each have to share.

Everyone is happy, tired and ready for bed. Tomorrow will be a quieter day at the Science Museum before a long march up the Great Wall on Monday.

Sunday 27 June
Day four and we are approaching the half-way mark.

It was an easy day today with a visit to the Science and Technology Museum. The museum opened last September and is huge. A morning just does not do it justice. It was McDonald's for lunch and then to a Silk Museum. This was a bit of a disappointment but as it was just across from McDonald's, it did not impact on our day. We returned to the hotel by 3:00pm for a swim and time to rest. Some students went for a walk around the neighbourhood with Mr van den Bergh and watched the crazy traffic at an intersection. As we walked back to the hotel we had a look at the food that was being set up outside in preparation for dinner time.

Dinner was Chinese again and then to bed by 8:30pm.

The students are enjoying the attention they get at public places with lots of people wanting a photo of them. They could become wealthy doing this! The blondes are a special favourite for photos.

Monday 28 June
Day five began with an early breakfast at 6:30am and we left the hotel by 7:15am.

Monday morning traffic was interesting to observe from our air-conditioned coach. It was a very hazy day and although we were in the country one could not really see very far. There was great excitement as we approached the Great Wall. Two thirds of our group made it to the top of the section we climbed and gave Mr Murray a serious challenge. Lunch was at a typical tourist banquet hall. A visit to a tomb and then the Sacred Way finished off our day.

While it was hot, the students managed the day and remained in great spirits. Back at the hotel we all had a quick swim. Everyone was in bed early. We have found a convenient laundry nearby and have had the PE uniforms cleaned for the rest of the week.

Tomorrow is the Summer Palace and then a museum.

Tuesday 29 June
We left a little later than planned for the Summer Palace. It is a beautiful place but its magnificence and splendour were spoilt by the pollution. More walking, which was not to everyone's liking and more stairs to climb. The students want to see another set of stairs for a long time. So for some variation, we hired four paddle boats and paddled around the lake.

The students are certainly gaining a cultural understanding of China. Activities such as going to a noodle house for lunch is a good example.

After lunch, we visited the military museum which was huge and impressive.

After a swim we had dinner. This consisted of pizza which was the students' choice (!). It was delivered to the hotel and we all sat outside our rooms in a long corridor, eating. After dinner we had a reflection on the day's activities. This was followed by a room inspection. The students did not take long to drop off to sleep.

Tomorrow is a visit to the Chinese Ethnic Cultural Park which will be a unique experience. From one of the cultural exhibitions we will be able to view the Olympic Stadium. Our visit to the Silk Market in the afternoon will be interesting and will be followed by a journey back home on the subway. A Kristin parent owns a restaurant at the Silk Market and has offered us lunch.

Wednesday 30 June
Today was a great cultural experience for the first part of the day.

We stopped at the Olympic Stadium where we borrowed a banner for a photo opportunity. The Ethnic Theme Park was rich in China's culture and an interesting experience. It involved some traditional dancing where we were able to take part.

Lunch was at a Kristin parent's cafe outside the Silk Market. It was traditional New Zealand-style food which was welcomed by everyone.

We then attacked the stalls inside the Silk Market. Your children are now competent with the bargaining process and ready for the final onslaught which will take place on Saturday. I hope you enjoy your fans, silk scarves, Chinese memorabilia and other items which were bargained down from incredible prices.

We had a swim before dinner. Dinner was Chinese at our restaurant across the road. This restaurant knows us well now and we usually have our private room with two tables.

Mr Murray took some of the boys to test their remote-control helicopters at a secret place somewhere in the hotel.

I think everyone will fall asleep very quickly tonight. Tomorrow will be a lot of fun with a visit to the Zoo, Oceanarium and then to the theatre. Everyone is getting along really well and thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Thursday 1 July
It rained today which cooled everything down. However it did not stop us from visiting the zoo and the aquarium. Beijing Zoo is a depressing place. You might ask why we went. The reason was that it gave us all an opportunity to reflect on our own situation and to compare. It will be interesting to ask the students their opinions when they get home.

The Acrobatic Theatre lived up to its reputation though, of being quite breathtaking. It was an hour of riveting balancing acts and dancing. One of the boys asked, "Are we going home now?" and when Mr van den Bergh replied, "Yes." His response was, "It hasn't even felt like a day yet." He obviously enjoyed himself, as did the others.

When we got off the bus at the hotel someone remarked, "Look we can see the sky!" The rain had cleared and we could see the sun, some clouds and blue sky. Something else that we perhaps take for granted.

Tomorrow will be an exciting race around the hutongs on rickshaws and a visit to the Drum Tower.

Friday 2 July
The sky was clear today thanks to yesterday's rain. We drove to the Drum Tower and we were just in time to see the drum demonstration. This was what the people of Beijing used for telling the time many years ago. We could also see the Beijing skyscrapers, something we had not seen before yesterday.

We then went on the rickshaws through the hutongs and visited a typical family home. The students will go home with a fresh appreciation for all they have. The experience was a real eye opener in terms of witnessing the culture here in China. The students showed a keen interest in everything and there has been no complaining.

The Beijing Museum was also full of cultural relics and a bit of history.

Dinner and lunch was Chinese – again – the special Peking Duck dinner has been postponed to our last night.

After a swim and dinner, we began to pack our bags so that we have space for tomorrow's shopping. Our final day will be used to explore ‘China for the Consumer’.

Everyone was in bed and fast asleep quite quickly. There is eager anticipation for the last day and all that it will bring. The children have a good understanding of the prices they should negotiate.

Saturday 3 July
Today flew by, or shall we say ‘buy’. The bargaining stories will keep until we return home but everyone had a great time at the market before returning for a swim and our final dinner - Peking Duck. We had a great time sharing stories before returning to the hotel.

We have packed our bags. This was a mission for some. Everyone is happy and someone was overheard saying, "This week has gone so fast."

However, the students are looking forward to their parents fetching them from the airport.

May we suggest that you do not offer Chinese Takeaways for dinner for a long time.

Sunday 4 July/Monday 5 July
The group arrived just over half an hour early on flight NZ086 this morning but took their time coming through customs. Some of the students came through sporting new 'Rolex' watches, others carrying remote helicopters and all with big grins on their faces when they spotted their families. They were full of stories from the minute they saw them. Most seemed to say that the Great Wall of China was the highlight, the Peking Duck their favourite meal and that the toilets will remain legendary! The teachers looked tired but agreed that the group were superb ambassadors for Kristin and that everyone would remember this trip for years to come.