In March, the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce and the Orangeburg County Community of Character program sponsored a 10-day trip to China, which was aimed at creating potential business opportunities. From the capital of Beijing, the group of 72 business leaders, civic group members and city employees moved to Shanghai, the country's largest city, before taking tour buses to the nearby cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Below, one of those travelers, Barbara Randall Clark, shares her experiences in the world's most populous country.

Excitement and anticipation were the orders of the day as we left Orangeburg on March 21 and headed for Charlotte, N.C., to board an airplane to New York -- the first leg of our China trip. Our driver was Dr. Andrew Hugine and our flight to New York was smooth and on time. We -- Georgia Montgomery, Abbiegail Hugine (Andrew's wife) and I -- even dined on blue potato chips and drinks.

We arrived in New York two hours later and joined Akilah Hugine, the Hugines' daughter, who took us under her wing and made sure we were where we were supposed to be when she wasn't out exploring. We had dinner in the Red Lobster near the JFK Airport and turned in for the night.

After eating breakfast the next morning at the Best Western-Airport, we checked out around noon and joined our other Orangeburg delegation at JFK to check in, go through security and board Air China. Everything was go.

But we sat on the plane for 2-1/2 hours, only to later find out that one of the passengers had had a heart attack as we were taxiing to take off, so we had to turn around. Luckily, a doctor was onboard and attended to the man, saving his life. We then took off for a 13-hour flight. We crossed the International Dateline and lost a day.

Although we arrived in Beijing, China, some two hours later than expected, our tour guides were at the airport to lead us to our buses, getting our luggage and transporting us to beautiful restaurant to enjoy a Peking roast duck dinner. Our tour guide was Lily, and we were on the green bus -- the fun bus -- where we all bonded. Our driver was extremely skilled.

After dinner, we were taken to the five-star Beijing Marriott Hotel in the Dong Cheng District of Beijing, the north capital of China. It was a fabulous hotel, thanks to the previous Olympics, and we stayed there three nights. After a delicious breakfast buffet of American and Chinese foods -- served every morning to start our day -- we boarded our buses.

First, our guide and driver did a slow drive through the Olympic Village, where we saw the gym in which U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps won his eight gold medals and China's Olympic Stadium, the "Bird's Nest," where the opening and closing celebrations of the 2008 Summer Olympics took place.

After hearing an account of why jade is so important to the Chinese and how this stone is made, we went to the Jade City, where we began contributing to the Chinese economy. Then, we visited the Ming Dynasty Tombs and, after hearing a detailed account about the life and death of the Dragon Lady, we visited her Summer Palace and saw the 17-Arch Bridge and Kunming Lake.

Next, we walked through one of the 13 Ming emperors' tombs and took pictures, then headed for the Cloisonne Factory, where we learned about the ancient metalworking technique used for making cloisonne containers and jewelry. Some of us bought items there, too. It was also here that we had a delicious lunch. All meals consisted of four cold dishes and eight hot dishes, with fruit served last as the dessert. Hot green tea, beer, Coke and Sprite or mineral water were the beverage choices served with each meal. Rice was also served with every meal. We were advised not to drink the tap water unless it was boiled, so bottled water was provided for us at our hotels or on our bus for a small fee.

The Great Wall

After lunch, we headed for the Great Wall -- the 4,000-mile-long and 2,000-year-old construction said to be the only man-made structure visible by the naked eye from the moon. It was China's first emperor, Shi Huangdi, who conquered the entire country and unified all the other little kingdoms. He set up uniform systems of writing, measurements and roads, and it was his idea to build the Great Wall. The guide gave us a brief history of the wall before we took off to walk to the top. It was very cold and windy, so Georgia and I walked up a short distance, took pictures and came back to the bus to wait for our bus mates, cheering them on as they returned. Vendors were everywhere, trying to sell their items, and many of us bought after bargaining with them.

Our next stop was a spa, where we got foot massages and body massages, if desired. I offered to take my masseur home; he was just that good! They are trained three or more years just to do massages. Then we had dinner. By the time we got back to our hotel, we couldn't wait to hit the sack. I did manage to take a hot bath before I turned in for the night.

Day four began with another great breakfast before we went to Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world. I'm sure we walked a good four miles around it in the rain. In 1989, Tiananmen Square was the location where Chinese citizens were killed protesting human rights issues. We also toured the Palace Museum, known as the Forbidden City, home of 24 emperors, and then it was on to the Pearl Market, where we learned how many pearls could be harvested from one oyster. Abbie Hugine guessed the number closest to the correct number of 46 and was given six free pearls. Another spending spree took place for all kinds of pearls.

On our last day in Beijing, we visited the Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D., where the emperors prayed to the heavens for a good harvest. We went to the park, where it seemed everyone was out playing games, singing, embroidering, quilting or exercising. The street vendors followed us everywhere, and they were all over the park.

Off to Shanghai

We boarded the buses and headed for the Beijing Airport to fly to Shanghai, and then we took a bus trip to Suzhou, where we had lunch, went sightseeing and checked into the Holiday Inn. Our new tour guide was Sherry, and we got another great bus driver. We spent one day in Suzhou and one day in Hangzhou. Abbie, Dr. Anne Crook, Hattie Evans and I opted not to take the Grand Canal boat ride and stayed on the bus, but Georgia Montgomery described it to us upon their return.

She said the flat-bottom boats took them down the 1,300-year-old canal, where they saw small homes on both sides of the canal where privileged families had been given permission to live as if in old China. At night, the canal is lighted with colorful lights. They got out of the boats and walked through the marketplace, where various foods were being cooked in the open, giving off very pungent odors. They then got back in their boats and came to the other side of the canal, where we were waiting for them on the bus. We also visited the Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill and the Hanshan Temple.

On one day, a family in old China prepared lunch for us, which was a treat, and we got back to our buses by riding rickshaws -- in twos -- through the narrow streets. Of course, the street vendors ("mosquitoes," as they are called) were there again.

Following the rickshaw rides, we walked to a natural herb health clinic, where we heard a lecture about the benefits of herbal medicine. Doctors then came in to check our pulse and tell us of any lingering health problems. Some of the group bought herbs, but I passed.

In Hangzhou, we visited a tea farm. We learned about the Chinese tea culture and tasted a cup of top-quality dragon well green tea. Most of us purchased packs of green tea after "Dr. Tea" completed his lecture on the qualities and benefits of green tea. Sipping on green tea -- with no sugar and no cream, hot or cold -- all day is what keeps the Chinese slim.

We visited a silk factory, where our delegation purchased many silk items and learned how the silk worm makes the silk, how the threads are used to make many items and how they embroider beautiful, double-sided designs on the silk for prints at the National Embroidery Institute. Silk embroidery is an important local craft with a 1,000-year history.

On our visit to a carpet factory, we saw handmade, super-silk tapestries and how intricate designs are worked into these beautiful rugs. We took a covered boat ride on the West Lake and saw a famous tea house from afar and the pagodas, which also appear on the Chinese yuan bank note. We went to the Bund -- a famous waterfront park -- and on to the Pudong Economic Development Zone, the downtown area where 52 buildings with different styles made up the "Wall Street of the East." Many high-rise condominiums make up all the provinces to accommodate the huge population. The individual flats were being demolished.

We had an exciting experience riding the famous Shanghai Maglev Train, the only commercial rail line of its type in the world, traveling at a top speed of 256 mph, faster than the bullet train in Japan. Powered by electromagnetism, when running, it is suspended in air, about a half an inch above the track on a magnetic cushion, and brings a speed revolution to the world in ground transportation.

We shopped for gifts in the bazaar, also called Shanghai Chinatown, and then had a late lunch at the Double Dragons Department Store/Restaurant.

We went sightseeing in the Yuyuan Garden, a maze of marvelous pavilions, ponds, rocky works and trees.

At one dinner, we had 10 different kinds of dumplings -- an unusual meal with fruit for dessert. On one day, we had Chinese barbecue, where we chose our own meats and vegetables, and the chef cooked the food choices on grills. That was different.

We visited a monastery and temples with 500 Buddhas housed in one temple. It rained two days, but we donned our rain gear and umbrellas and stayed on schedule.

There were Western-style commodes, but I did try the squat kind once just to say I did. All other times, I searched for the Western ones.

On our last night in Shanghai, we saw acrobatic extravaganza Cirque du Soleil -- a combination of traditional Chinese acrobatic arts and modern technology. It was amazing to see the acrobats' control and precision, accompanied by the lighting and sound effects, elaborate costumes and original live music -- simply beautiful!

Coming home

On our last day in Shanghai, we were up bright and early with our luggage ready to be loaded on the buses. We received breakfast in a bag and headed for the airport, where we had to once again go through security to fly back to Beijing. Then, it was through customs and more security for the afternoon flight back to JFK, another 13-hour journey.

Visiting China was a great experience and an opportunity to acknowledge how fortunate we are in America. When we look at other cultures -- and some appear to be very happy in their lifestyles -- we have much to be thankful for, so much good in our lives, things that make us laugh, things that we question and things that make us proud. China is so advanced in many ways, yet far behind us in others. But comparisons can be misleading, for progress happens at different rates in different cultures, and there is always work to be done and improvements to be made.

I am a more informed person because of that 10-day trip to China, and I thank David Coleman, president of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce, and Don Tribble of Orangeburg County Community of Character for providing that opportunity for the 72 members of the Orangeburg delegation.

We had great tour guides who were knowledgeable, helpful and friendly, with skilled bus drivers. All were employees of the government and gave us many tips about China. Here are some of the things I learned:

♦ Comparisons are made by yin and yang, which means opposites must balance (female-male; good-bad; new-old; beautiful-ugly; love-hate; life-death).

♦ Feng shui dictates wealth and means balance, simplicity and harmony with the spiritual forces that inhabit a dwelling.

♦ Houses are designed to accommodate parents, grandparents and children.

♦ China has a one-child policy, so houses usually have only one child's room. If, however, a couple has a girl or multiple births as their first child or children, they may try once more to give birth to a boy.

♦ Master bedrooms and the grandparents' room are in the south part of the house, and the house is always built to face south.

♦ Silk is used for warmth and coolness, and embroidered silk patterns -- which let in light -- are chosen for wall hangings instead of windows.

♦ The favorite colors in China are brown, cream, white, red and shades of purple, lapis lazuli (blue) and yellow (the color of emperors).

♦ China has mandatory retirement: 55 years of age for women and 60 for men, and they receive a pension and a house and live a life of leisure. They respect and take care of their elders.

It's difficult to remember, in order, all that we did each day and all the places we went. I think I covered most of what we did. I started off taking good notes, but exhaustion took over. In fact, I'm still trying to get my sleep pattern back in gear.

All in all, though, it was a great adventure!

Barbara Randall Clark of Orangeburg is a retired educator, professional counselor, presenter and author.

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