Seminary Conclusions.

China: Shanghai

As a quick update, I went to China with a group of students and two professors from January 3rd through the 16th, we visited three major cities, to observe how the church and state function, observing communism and the new formation of the church of China.

We arrived after a long plan ride in Shanghai at about 8pm,we met our guides, Crystal and Cathy. Cathy was the official interpreter for the group, although Crystal had a great command of the English language. We drove for about an hour to our hotel, arriving and finally deciding that all of us would just crash, and see everyone in the morning.

The hotel was located about two blocks from a major shopping area, called "People's Park", which was basically a street blocked off from cars that held upper-class stores, very americanized stores, and nothing of true interest to any of us. Our first full day in Shanghai was spent going to some of the more touristy spots in the city, and trying to obtain as much information and history as possible. We began our day at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which is currently the tallest structure in the city, and has a observation deck at the top. The elevator races you to the 32nd floor, where the observation deck lies, as you travel around this 360 degree deck, you are free to see all of the city, including much of the Yangtze River. Upon looking out the windows we were quickly confronted with just how bad the smog is, as seen in this picture.
In the base of the Oriental Pearl Tower, was a museum full of Chinese history, briefly detailing much of the turbulent past of Shanghai. Following our stop here, we went back to the hotel for lunch in the hotel restaurant. Our first meal all together. We were confronted with a variety of foods, served family style on a lazy Susan, and shared by all. We had green tea with lunch, as there is no clean drinking water in China. Several foods included, lemon chicken, mushroom soup, blood soup (which had coagulated blood cubes in a spicy broth), rice, fish (with the head on or course), chicken (which has been boiled and cut into pieces leaving the head and feet in the bowl), and several other dishes. My only comment is that I survived, it was all delicious, and I am glad for the experience.
The afternoon was devoted to visiting a Buddhist temple, with the largest all white Jade hand-carved reclining Buddha statue. It was cool to see a different type of worship space, and to see the ritualistic bowing, lighting of incense, and praying to different statues that represent different aspects of Buddha. By far however the best part of being inside the Temple, was this: We all walk as a group into this quiet dark candle lit room,where there is a large Buddha statue and several people praying quietly to Buddha. Suddenly the Dean loudly says, "If you've seen one Buddha, you've seen em all." LOUDLY! I thought we were going to be killed right there. I was shocked by how undiplomatic he was for certain parts of the trip, but that is another story for another time.
The rest of Shanghai was great, we spent a lot of time touring the city, going to the headquarters of the Chinese Christian Church (CCC), going to East China Seminary, and also Fudan University. All were very enriching adventures, and we left Shanghai and headed to Nanjing by bus. It was a 5 hour long trip, as there is much traffic in China (over congestion of cars, trucks and buses- lots of migrant workers).

posted by Dana @ 4:44 PM