A Family Trip to Beidaihe-1

It is really a pity I just cannot spare too much time writing something on my vacation trip to Beidaihe these days. The entry suspended several time and I’ve decided to finish it today. I will share some of the pictures I took with you later.



The three-day stay in the city is an exciting experience for me. More importantly, it was one of the few trips the whole family have had together. I failed to join some of the trips during the past several years one reason or another. I felt exhilarated just thinking of this.



We took an express train to Beidaihe in the early morning. Since it was still one day ahead of the weekend (Thursday), there weren’t too many people on the train. Around noon, we arrived at the Beidaihe Railway Station. After going out of the station, we headed for our hotel by taxi. The air was neat and cool, and we had left the extreme heat in Beijing behind.



The hotel we stayed was a three star and we had a brief lunch at the canteen. After lunch, Frank, my son, got so excited that he wanted to see the beach immediately although this was not the first time he saw the seaside. So we put on our swimsuits and walked to the beach. The nearest beach from our hotel was no more than 10 minutes’ walking distance, and we didn’t forget to rent two life bouys---none of us could swim well. The sun was shining above, and the trees spreading their shades along the streets, beautiful flowers were clustering and blooming. We could see people in swimsuits, either walking in groups or in twos or threes. Sandals on their feet and towels and life bouys across their shoulder, they were strolling to the same place.



Here we were at the beach! There were stunning number of people there and we could barely manage a place. There must be several thousand people there, white or colorful sunshades were strewn along the sandy beach like bright dots. Some people were lying prostrate on the sand to get the sunburn, and some were playing with the sand. There were more people in the water. Some were swimming with their bouys, while others were wading in the shallow water. Something funny was a man swimming in the deep water and dragging a small plastic boat behind. A small dog was crouching in it, trembling with fright. Curious people would swim near the boat and said hello to the poor little dog.



Wearing the life buoys, Frank and I walked into the water. The sunshine had made the water warm and it was very comfortable wading in it. The wind was blowing, the waves rushing to the shore. Sometimes you could barely keep your legs when they came, but when we swam further, we found them losing their mighty power. We were like some small boats poppling in the roaring sea.



Something funny was that my wife lost her glasses when she was trying to swim in the sea. She was so frightened at the waves that she could not keep her balance in the water. And she couldn’t recollect when the glasses were gone. She spent the left time there in mistiness because she was near-sighted like me.



We stayed at the beach for about two hours and left there reluctantly later. What a day! And something else was waiting for us. I will tell you about it next time.

Poison + Toothpaste == Poisonous Toothpaste?

I wrote this several days ago but only finished it today. Do share your views with me, buddies...


There barely seems to be any correlation between the two. But what will you do if there is?

Chinese toothpaste producers must be having a hard time recently. Several claims on safety of the products originated from China have been lodged by some other countries. The issue was triggered by the Panama government who claimed that the toothpaste they imported from China contained diethyl glycol, a toxic organic chemical.

This having been revealed, many countries and areas are taking action against the toothpaste of Chinese origin: USA, Canada, Singapore, Panama...Last week, Hong Kong customs released an announcement and asked the citizens not to buy three brands of toothpaste from mainland China.

How do you think about this issue? In my opinion, the domestic toothpaste producers need to think about it thoroughly. There is fire where there is smoke. Are we making our products according to the standards accepted by the users in other countries? Are we fully aware of the difference between our standard and those adopted by other countries?

On the other hand, our enormous trade surplus has made us the punching bag of our trade partners. Many countries always have a bone to pick with us and are trying to seek any chance to find fault with us. They are trying every way to denigrate China and Chinese products. Clearly, They have their own axe to grind.

However，what should we do to avoid this and what lessons can we draw from the issue? It's high time for us to address this problem properly and tactfully now.

Spinning Class

Wednesday. Time for the Gym again.

Since the buddy who came with me was engaged in other stuff, I had to go there alone. On the way I passed by that small shop selling nice pancakes. Fully aware of a long and painstaking exercise looming ahead of me, I knew I needed something to eat. Then, with half a pancake in hand, and a big bag across the shoulder, I began to eat it while heading for the gym. I felt a little bit funny when some passers-by glanced at me curiously, so I just devoured it as quickly as I could. It was not gentleman-like, huh?

As usual, I spent half an hour running. It was kind of waming up every time I began doing other stuff. After 30minutes, my body had been soaked with sweat. Running was always a good exercise to a person who didn't go much in for sports, and also the easiest. Then followed by situps,weight-lifting, each for about 10 minutes. The spinning class would begin at 6:30, so I went to the lounge downstairs for a short break and to cool myself down.

I loved spinning very much, but it had been quite some time after I took the last class. And I knew it would be tough and what I could do was just trying to keep up with them without being dropped behind.

6:30. At the spinning room. Several guys were already there, doing some warming up exercises. I went to one spinner and checked whether it went well with me...It was OK. Then I wheeled around, greeting the buddies around me with a smile.

The coach was a muscular young boy, appearing so cool in his black hood on the head. With some brief instructions, he led us into the journey. Accompanied by the dynamic and rythmic music, we began the warming up session by pedalling the spinners at our own ease. When it was over, my body was hot and sweat began to dripple down along my forehead and cheeks.....Oh, man! It was just starting..

After a short break without stopping pedaling, we entered the next stage. The young coach began to shake his body rythmically, while pedalling the spinner with the music. We followed him. He shouted from time to time to cheer us up, and we changed our gestures according to his instructions. Each piece of music lasted about 5 to 6 minutes, while to me it was like 5 to 6 hours. I was entirely out of puff soon, so I had to reduce the resistance a little to follow up with him.

The young coach walked among us from time to time to check if we were doing well, or if the resistance was ok. Most of the time he was pedalling his spinner on the platform in the front of the room. He rocked his body very hard and rythmically, and so intoxicated in it. I couldn't help laughing at this...Oh, my! haahaa! His body rocking wildly, his head moving from side to side frantically...It seemed he had taken some drugs....heehee.

When the class was over, I was totally exhausted. My legs sore and lumbersome, my throat burning with flames, and my body flooded with sweat. However, I love it, and I love the sense of challenging the physical extremes. It makes me relaxed and cheered up.

It was nearly 9 when I got home, and I realized that I had stayed there for almost 4 hours, much much longer than ever before.

Trip to Beidaihe: Lianfengshan Park

It was around half past four when we left the beach. After putting everything in order again at the hotel, we went to Lianfengshan Park by taxi. The park was only 15 minutes' ride from the hotel and the road was almost clear (This reminded me of the ever-jammed roads in Beijing), so we arrived there fairly quickly.



The took its name after the mountains in it. Actually the park was built on the mountains. We bought the tickets and entered the park. It was almost the closing time of the park and the setting sun was flaunting its last flamboyance above the horizon not far away. A winding path led us up into the dark-green exuberance of trees. The path was well-paved with flagstones carved with beautiful patterns, and was stretching far into the mountains covered with various unknown trees. As we were going deeper into the woods, the path became bumpy and steep,some part of which only consisted of stairs of huge boulders. And it went up and down with the mountains. Along the path were thick grass dotted with old trees, and from time to time you could also see beautiful flowers in the grass. The sun was casting its shining golden rays on the trees, some penetrating the thick leaves and spreading on the thick grass or ground. Gradually the gold lustre began to fade away and we realized that the evening was coming.



There was a steel tower on the top of a mountain, we climbed up and had a birdview of the city. Matchboxes of buildings were built along the coast, beyond which was the immense sea. Misty fog was drifting like a thin veil among the nearby mountains. On the tower, I was delighted to find a small tower that echoed with this one on another mountaintop. What a view!



Almost one and a half hour past before we reached the exit. The path was always going up and down, some part was so narrow that we had to be very careful when passing it. As we were going forward, a small creek was accompanying us, the gurgling water was singing happily. When the darkness finally reigned the park, we could only hear its murmurs. Then the beautiful lanterns along the path were lit up. They were swaying among the trees just like lovely fireflies.



We went out of the exit and took a taxi back to the hotel. The quiet streets in the day suddenly became a bustling market. The small restaurants by the roadside were full of people, and delicious seafood was served. We suddenly felt very hungry, so we came to one of them and enjoyed a nice feast of seafood.



What an exciting and relaxing day!