Our Last Day in China

On our final day in China we headed first to the port of Tianjin. It was about a 2.5 hour drive. We got out walked around and were lucky enough to be able to watch a boat leaving the port.





Cliff and John take a seat on the dock of the port.



Nina and Adam walk around to check out the area.




Will and Nikola show how huge the port machinery was.





Danielle stops in front of the machines.





A birthday dream come true for Justin, spending his 23rd birthday in the Tianjin sea port.



Lindsay, Brandy, Adam, Codie, Justin, Brett, Robert, Jake, Logan and Caitlin.



Adam, Stephanie, Bridget and Kristen.




The ship is being pulled out by the other boat.



The group watches the action.




After pulling the ship out the boat plays bumper cars to turn the ship out to sea.




There are two boats involved in getting this ship out to sea.



We had lunch at Pizza Hut near the port then we went back into the city.



Next we visited a Toyota plant for a interesting tour through their just-in time production line.




The showroom of the cars they produce at this plant.



Ryan and Nikola with their guest hats on.



Bridget trying out the Rio.




Our tour guide describing the differences between the cars.





We stopped by the new Olympic soccer arena before stopping by a new shopping mall and ending our evening at the Future Children's Creative Arts Center of Tianjin. We split up into 3 groups to tour the center and all met back on the 7th floor for our final Alumni Banquet of the trip.



Codie and Nikola on the bus.



The lobby of the center.



The view from our banquet room.




Dr. Chow and Dr. Riley introduce the University video, and thank our hosts for their hospitality.








Before dinner began we were given a performance by some of the children and two of the teachers from the center.




One of the performers welcomes Dr. Riley.





As the night winds down we all just enjoyed each others company before heading home.




Nikola and Chris catching some sleep on the bus.

We have had quite an amazing trip, but I know many of us our

exhausted and ready to return home.

As we have returned safely from China, we have gained a number of life stories.

To date I have been able to catch up on all of the pictures. I hope you have enjoyed following along with our experiences.

Please glance back through the previous entries as I have recently added pictures to a number of the blogs.

The Great Wall

The entrance to the Great Wall

Today was one visit that many of us had waited the whole trip for, The Great Wall of China. We were all up and out the door around 8 AM. It was about a 40 minute ride to a remote area of the wall. Our guides take us to this spot instead of the wall in Beijing because there were fewer tourist.

There it is!

One of the towers on the wall.

Our guide describing the different directions.

Ryan stops to capture a picture of the scenery.

Caitlin photographs one of the gardens before the wall.

Rob made it through the maze first because he cheated and jumped the walls.

Jimmy, John, Justin and Nikola wander through the maze.

Everyone who found their way through.

Last pit stop before climbing the wall.

The Great Wall of China

It was nice, we pretty much had the wall to ourselves. After getting some information from the tour guide, we were set free to walk the thousands of stairs for an hour and a half. I think we found out how the Chinese stay so thin, we all had quite the work out.

At the begining

Dr. France didn't come with us because of a migrane so we made a little sign. Will, Lindsay, Kristen, Megan and Laura.

The small white spots are some of the students who took the eastern route.

Will climbs the small steps up into the tower.

Some of the students pose on the steps.

Kristen and Bridget on the Great Wall.

This place was amazing

Will made it to the top.

Bridget, Laura and Kristen on the way back down the wall.

When the old wall started there was only one guide wall so it became a little dangerous.

Laura and our Chinese friend

It was a long way up

Kristen calling her family from the Great Wall

Megan and Lindsay

Jimmy, Laura, Chris, Jake, Bridget, Lindsay, Kristen and Megan

Bridget on a camel at the wall.

Around 11 we headed back to the hotel for lunch then boarded the bus for the city of Tianjin. We went to visit the Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, where we spent a few hours before heading off to dinner.

We could make our own dumplings at the restaruant

A few of our hosts welcoming us to Tianjin

The restaruant was very elaborate.

Rob enjoys being a King for a moment with Brandy and Codie on the Emperors throne.

Adam is King

Our hosts gave Brett a cake for his birthday.

He even got to blow out some candles to celebrate.

After dinner we took a quick stroll through the Tianjin TV tower. The restaurant at the top of the tower rotated so you could have a 360* view of the city.

The Tianjin TV tower at night.

Tianjin after dark

Jimmy, Will and Rob stand with one foot on the moving carpet and one on the stable platform.

After an exhausting day of walking all over town, we checked into our hotel and had a quiet evening.

Mark and Logan wait for their room keys.