This website is intended to ‘show & tell’ about an incredible trip we three friends had when we headed to China for a couple weeks with SmarTours.  We toured famous sights, learned ore about Chinese history and culture, toured Jade, Cloissenne, and Silk factories.

We climbed the Great Wall, visited Tiannanmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Spirit Path, Suzhou (Venice of the East), Tibetan Lama Temple, Yuyuan Gardens, the Olympic stadium.  We enjoyed a myriad of Foo Dogs and marvelled at roofs adorned with mythical animals.

Along the way, we encountered ‘Chinglish’, an interesting result of translating Mandarin and Cantonese concepts to English words.  Chinglish is found everywhere – from freeway signs to bathroom stalls.  More later on this interesting and entertaining form of communication.

This was a memorable trip which was made oh so much more incredible by the three adventurous (and silly) travel partners – Denise Koren, Lynn Williams, and Patricia Austin.   We sang and danced our way through China, making up new words to old songs.   Some day we may see the video of Lynn dancing to Cole Porter on the Great Wall.  

SmarTours arranged everything for us – from the airport transfers and food to transportation, sightseeing, and entertainment.