#45 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China (Z-Visa resolution)

The documentation as a legal resident in China has now been resolved, and we have learned, that " red tape" in China is just as complicated and cumbersome as it is in America, especially when it comes to immigration-issues. After several visits to their office, Taizhou's local authorities have been quite helpful in issuing the new resident visa, with some slight penalties. It permits my stay in China until the summer of 2007.

Once again, we will depart for Beijing this coming Monday evening on the overnight train, leaving at 6 p.m. from the new Taizhou train station. We will arrive in the Capitol of China at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning. With Arthur's connections, we were able to secure two tickets, one in the "Soft-Sleeper" compartment, and the other in the "Hard-Sleeper" compartment.

He offered me the more private and more comfortable Soft-Sleeper, and I selfishly accepted. Trains in China are always filled to capacity. Since tickets are available for purchase only days before departure, "long-range" plans for travel are never quite assured. I understand, there is even an underground-economy, that deals with train-tickets.

Amber, one of the hopeful tour-guides for the '08 Summer Olympics, has helped in securing hotel accomodations, not far from Tian'anmen Square, as well as some of Beijing's other unique sights. The advantage of having a personal guide are obvious, and since Amber was very helpful in our last crisis in Beijing, it will be like meeting an old friend. She has already emailed to inquire, how she might make this visit more pleasant.

Some of the sights of course are familiar to most:
Tian'anmen Square and Gate, The Great Wall, and the Forbidden City. Others have some very inviting names:
The Great Bell Temple, The Imperial Garden, The Palace of Heavenly Purity, The Hall of Preserving Harmony, The Hall of Middle Harmony, and The Hall of Supreme Harmony. Additional unique visits could be to:
The Lama Temple, Temple of Confucius, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Museum of the Chinese Revolution, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and The Great Hall of the People.

It's a little much for a 6 day visit, but there will be opportunities for a number of future trips. Once a new city makes sense, return visits have always become great adventures. I wouldn't mind becoming a guide during the 2008 Beijing Olympics :-) especially if some friends are coming to visit??

Let me share some additional thoughts of interest I have researched about Beijing:

Before 1980, only about 40 parks and green spaces were available to people living in the city.
By 2002, that number had increased to 160 parks.
By 2008, in time of the Olympics, another 800 parks and green spaces will have been added, bringing the total to some 960 parks. It is hoped that some of Beijings pollution will deminish because of these and other efforts.

A new law requires ancient parks and gardens to maintain their historic appearance and atmosphere. KFC had to move its restaurant out of the imperial gardens of Beihai Park, and so not violate this new city ordinance.

Between 9-10 million bicycles are in daily use in this city of some 14 million inhabitants. It is gestimated, that 1 in 100 Chinese live in or near the city of Beijing.

The Dongshimen railroad station, one of 5 railway stations in the city of Beijing, can accomodate up to 14,000 individuals, more than any other station in the world.

An unusual law issued by the city of Beijing in 1995 requires that no dog taller than 14 inches (36cm) can be raised legally in the city. My doggy "Pepper" would have just been permitted.

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