Nanjing Historical Remains Museum

Well November 15, 2008 was our last field trip outing with the Flagship program. We visited the Nanjing Historical Remains Museum, which was also the Presidential Palace(China's version of the White House) before the communists took over China. This wasn't one of the most intriguing places we have been but it was something new to do.

Waiting to go in

People flock to Clara, wherever we are. Sometimes they grab her and hold her and want a picture with her. I think she is pretty famous in China, but I always joke that when they go back to the US she isn't going to know what to do without all the attention.

The outside of the the museum.

The Flagship group listening intently to the tour, except for Caleb and he is in the back giving us the traditional Chinese pose.

Me with some pretty flowers, sporting the Chinese pose.
Jake getting ready to walk into the museum.
This was some really neat artwork towards the top of the building as we were walking in.

Jake and Clara with a picture of Sun Yat-Sen and the other founders of the Republic of China in the background. (It's neat because the people are in red, and it makes the shape of the ROC flag that still flies in Taiwan)
The Vice-President's office.
The Garden out back with lots of beautiful flowers.

So in this one part there were a bunch of beautiful flowers.

I think if we would have come just a week earlier these flowers would have been perfect, but as you can see they were on the way out.
Clara smelling the flowers, afterward she had pollen on her face.
Jake wanted to take a picture of the round bush, so I got to stand in.
I just thought this looked really neat.
Statue outside one of the museums. This museum was established to commemorate the negotiations between the KMT(Nationalists) and CCP(Chinese Communist Party). This statue is of Zhou En-Lai who led the communist delegation. Because the communists won, the entire museum is skewed to meet their perspective/agenda, but basically there were negotiations that lasted about a year. The two parties were trying to figure out a way to peacefully rule the country together, but they failed, and civil war broke out, and the KMT eventually fled to Taiwan, while the CCP still controls China today.
Jake inside the museum. This is a huge statue with all of the main CCP negotiators.
An old sweet Buick that Zhou En-lai would cruise around in. Buicks are still really popular in China today, in large part because Zhou En-lai and Sun Yat-sen both drove them.

Saturday Outing, Part 3-Capital of the Taiping Rebellion

Since we are going on another outing today, I figured I should finish last weeks (November 8, 2008) outing. The last place we went was the Capital of the Taiping Rebellion. It was a farmers uprising that controlled a large chunk of Southern China. They had an art exhibit that I started walking through, and then the guy who was taking us around said, "Follow Me." So I did as I was told, but thinking I have no clue where Jake is or anyone else for that matter. He took me back to this area and then left. I was so glad when I saw my friend Kirsten (who had also lost her husband along the way). Then Jake appeared and we went back into the gardens they had at this place which were amazing.
The entrance to this Capital, I'm pretty sure this lady wanted to be in my picture. A weeping willow tree.

Just another Chinese building.

So in one of the ponds they had these ducks, that Jake and I had never seen anything like them. Their colors were so vibrant, we got a little carried away with the duck pictures, but don't worry I only posted one.

Me at Mulan's house, ok not really but my niece will think that is cool.

So while we taking pictures around this area, this little boy fell in the pond. I don't know if he stepped on a lily pad thinking it could hold him or what, but he fell right in. I was surprised he wasn't crying because it was pretty chilly that day.

Jake and I, more breath taking scenery.

So Jake and I were hiking around, and I found this little cave. To the right of where Jake is standing there was this pitch black walkway to another room. I was too scared to go in, so Jake went in with some of his friends. He said there was just a room back in there.

I know, another rock garden but they are so beautiful.

I love the walkways here because they are always designed with something in them.

This is Donny doing a crazy pose.
Jake, doing the Vitruvian man pose.

I wanted to join in on the fun, so maybe I was doing a cheerleader pose...who knows.

Saturday Outing, Part 2-Zhonghua Gate

The next stop along the way, on November 8, 2008, was Zhonghua Gate (Chinese Gate) is the south gate of Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. Zhonghua Gate has the double distinction of being the biggest castle-style city gate in China and a structural element of the most complicated castle in the world. It is the castle's magnificent scale, delicate structure, and the great skill with which it was built that bequeath it an important place in China's military and architectural traditions. Construction of the castle took twenty-one years, from 1366 to 1387.

The entrance to the gate, don't worry the soldiers are just statues.

Posing like the soldier, I think we look pretty intimidating.

Top of the castle/gate.
Bonsai Garden
Wall and stairs up the wall.

Jake overlooking the courtyard

View going up the stairs...now this is what I call China. Jake and Brit

Jake and I on the stairs going up to the top. The ramps on the side of us were so that the horses could get up to the top.

Chad and the soldier

Jake, thinking enough with the pictures already.

This was one of the tunnels where some of the soldiers would sleep. There were about 8 of these on top of the wall, and each would be lined with 3-4 level bunk beds. So...what looked like just a normal part of the wall actually housed an entire army.

Chad and Kirstin overlooking the city.

Jake and Brit on top of the world...ok the wall.

This is Jake's friend Luke doing his mad martial arts moves.

More martial art moves...he is actually pretty good.

View from below.

This was another outing that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love the scenery and the old buildings. It really amazes me how old things are here and the condition they are still in.