Auckland Departure 19 Sept 2012

With Rowan Johnston

The Sine Qua Non

September 20th. Arrival Shanghai Pu Dong Airport

First site... East Nanjing Road

Famous Skyline, The Bund

The Bund

...and later that night

Dinner with John Chen and Kirsten Mason (not pictured)

September 21st. Shanghai Int'l School No. 1 Rehearsal

Shanghai Int'l School No. 1: being shown a model of the enormous campus

Shanghai Int'l School No. 1 tour

Shanghai Int'l School No. 1 TV Studio

Another angle

Two pianists played for us. Here's everyone after all performances

September 22nd. Below the Oriental Pearl Tower

Atop the Oriental Pearl Tower--winner of our best picture award (Alice)

He Luting Hall, New Zealand Music Festival Shanghai Venue

Rehearsal inside He Luting Hall

...and during the performance (don't tell anyone we took this!)

...with John Chen and Kirsten Mason and her children

Post concert hosted by Kirsten Mason

September 23rd. Packed in for the trip to Suzhou

Suzhou Cultural Arts Center Lobby Stage

The audience begins to fill in...

Interest from passersby...

Children dancers

Children pause to listen

Boat ride begins. We're joined by Alice's son Michael

On the water

Historic old town

Lauren

Sally

Sophia

Britta

Captain

First Mate (and Alice)

Terra Firma once more

September 24th. Geist is welcomed to the 400-year old Suzhou Arts College

First a performance for us of Guzheng players

...then Erhu players

Then it's our turn

Intrepid Britta and Erhu master friend

Fearless Sally with copious instructors

First duet recital on the Erhu

Alice interprets for the discussion session

Exchange of Gifts 1

Exchange of Gifts 2

Exchange of Gifts 3

Outside the classroom, being shown the 400-year-old firewall doors

The peaceful teacher's courtyard

The school's art teacher is famous and has his own gallery at the school

Passing Beethoven at the Piano Sculpture

We say farewell to Suzhou Arts College

Outside the Silk Factory

Silk Factory Courtyard

Silkworms may look yummy, but they're not for eating!

Silk blankets begin life small...

...but with teamwork

...and coordination

... a perfect fit!

Modern Rickshaw 1

Modern Rickshaw 2

At the fish market

Time for a photo

Along one of the historic canals

Water is everywhere in Suzhou

A short break

Suzhou is also famous for rock gardens

Comfy in there?

Perfectly framed individual character of each girl

September 25th. Cool shades from the night before on the pedestrian street

Suzhou train station

Bullet train

300+ kilometers per hour

Beijing subway ride

Beijing specialty: Hot Pot at the Silk Street

Tiananmen Square on a rainy night

September 26th. We arrive at the NZ Embassy and set up

Afterward with His Excellency, New Zealand Ambassador Carl Worker

Outside the Embassy with First Secretary Pip McLachlan

Off to the Great Wall!

First you have to get up to the Great Wall -- it's on the top of the mountain!

...going first through this grotto

...and this rock museum

At last... and what a beautiful day!

Four gorgeous girls on top of the world

Inspiring scenery

Alice, our indefatigable guide and interpreter

Moments before the bees arrive

Famous bee dance

Getting down is easier than reaching the Great Wall

Bird's nest on a clear day

IBM's Dragon Building backed by the sun

Water Cube

Farewell Dinner Roast Duck

September 27th. Departure coffee at Beijing Capital Airport