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10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, August 23, 1988 What is purportedly the only man-made structure which can be seen from the moon? If you guessed the Great Wall of China, you'd be right. And no visitor to the Peoples' Republic would want to miss the opportunity to walk the Wall, however limited the clamber or crowded the steps. China is a country shrouded in misty history, dating back to the 21st Century B.C. Many emperors and dynasties have held sway, most leaving some permanent structure behind to somehow mark their passing -- palaces, tombs, massive sculptures, temples, gardens, broad squares, and The Wall. China Perspectives III skims some of the more famour spots which have become, unfortunately for the visitors, magnets for the country's burgeoning tourist trade. In 1979 New China was opened under the Communist Govern- ment's latest attempt to modernize this massive country with its many peoples and regions. In 1988, the trickle of curious foreigners, especially Japanese, Americans, and Canadians, has become almost a downpour. When the Russians withdrew a few years ago, they were unaware what an opportunity was being given to advance China's newest commercial venture -- tourism. For example, Tian An Men Square in Beijing on a Sunday is now much worse than the CNE on a very bad day. A population of one billion has to go somewhere for relaxation. And go they do. By bike, pedicab, bus, train, a few in cars, and many on foot. Especially to their beloved "Wall."' Situated an hour's drive from China's international ancient seat of authority, Peking (now Beijing), the pass at Badaling is the most commonly visited of all the Wall's remaining segments. This great wonder of the world in reality was seven separate walls, some predating to the 7th Century B.C. Until the 17th Century A.D. each emperor mobilized tremendous amounts of manpower and material to build his section of wall (total length: more than 50,000 kilometres). The Badaling and adjoining walls were built in the 14th Century, and are undergoing constant renovation in accordance with their historical and touristic significance. Countless legends have sprung from the Great Wall. The most famous concerns young Meng Jiangnu whose tears, when she discovered her young bridegroom, Fan, has been entombed in the structure after having been unwillingly pressed into ser- vice, are said to have brought down a large section. Forced by Emperor Quin Shi Huang to marry him soon after, Meng cleverly arranged a boating expedition. When they rowed to the middle of the sea, Meng sprang overboard -- and into history as an ear- ly martyr of villainy, and The Wall. Poet Zhang Zicheng com- memorates her courage: "Snowflakes are flying, Meng Jiangnu has gone a thousand li carrying winter clothing, She has cried down a hundred thousand li of Great Wall, And sadly recogniz- ed her husband's bones." The July day the Ontario Educators were escorted to the Wall, near the end of their twenty-three day China Odyssey, was disappointing. Yet somehow fitting. For only the second time - in the travel period, rain fell, and an oppressive mist swirled about the only man-made object seen from the moon. That day, it could hardly be seen when one stood upon it. But the mist pro- duced an eerie quality, a sense of history and its mystery. The bones of Fan and countless buried workers lay beneath our feet, the wall's ramparts sweated, and the keening wind mourned the past as it shifted the fogs. A camel could be seen below (imported for the tourists), the mountains hunched beyond the creuellated battlements, guards stood unperturbed at their posts, and thousands of pilgrims went on with their photography and adula- tion. Unforgettable. Not only serving as a means of defense for China's various state borders, the Wall also played an important role in East- West transportation, cultural exchange, and development of frontier areas. It is especially connected with the fabled Silk Road. China's first emperor, Quin Shi Huang (Quin Dynasty; 221-207 B.C.), is attributed with its early construction in the third century B.C.; but this one man has since become much more famous as the subject of one of the greatest archeological finds of this century -- the Quin Warriors at Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. If the experience of standing on the Wall was eerie, how much more impressive was the viewing of this find, now under cover in the Quin Shi Huang Museum. A presumed 8,000 life-size terracotta (pottery) warriors stand on guard about the tomb of their dead emperor ready to do battle in the afterlife against gods and man. Only 600 of these figures, ranging in size from 5' 7" to 6'5", with accompanying horses and chariots (mainly destroyed, if of wood) and weaponry, have been fully restored. But these are more than enough to enhance the sense of history. Looking into their faces with their set expressions and impassive eyes, one sees that no two are alike. The original colours of CuainA PERSPECTIVE A FOUR PART SERIES by Diane Lackie PART III: TRADING ON HISTORY soldierly garb may be faded, the men's posture rigid, militaristic, but -- did that one move? -- were those eyes shif- ting? The dig goes on as it will well into the next century. Emperor Shi himself remains undisturbed under his mound - for the time being. Nearby lie two pits yet to be worked, two museums, one hous- ing some fine bronzes of the period, an elegant garden brimm- ing with roses and international tourists, and a large outdoor bazaar trading in goods from quilts to illegal leopard skins. Life goes on about the emperor who so feared death. He will never be lonely. Other historic and architectural treasures presented to the teachers were the Old Walled City in Shanghai, the Jade Bud- dha Temple, and Museum there, the Emperor's Garden of Reserved Pleasure at Wuxi, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Mausoleum, a Ming Tomb, Meiling Palace (later, home of Madame Chiang Kai- Shek), Temple of Beaming Light -- all in Nanjing, Banpo Neanderthal Museum, Huanquin Fountain, Han and Tang Dynasty Tombs, Quin Tomb, Great Wild Goose Pagoda, Great Mosque (there is a Muslim presence in China to-day, and religious practices are more relaxed), Bell Tower, Drum Tower, open market -- all in Xi'an, the Ming Tombs (impressive, but somehow lacking) near Beijing, the Temple of Heaven, Tian An Men Square, the Summer Palace, and the Palace Museum (For- bidden City) -- all in or near Beijing, to name the more famed. If it appears to be a packed itinerary, believe me, it was! Many of the attractions were what should have been full day excur- sions. And weren't. Then, lunch and dinner also had to be includ- ed, as well as the Friendship Stores -- and lectures. : Information concerning China's geography and history flood- ed like each day's intense sunlight. A massive country with fif- ty tribal peoples stretching from the Russia-Mongolia border in the north to the rims of India, Burma, Tibet and Thailand in the south and west, lashed by the Yellow, East and South China Seas to the east, China has undergone a turbulent history. Although she boasts of a "glorious revolutionary tradition," 'heroic strug- gles," "great leaders' such as Chairman Mao (now disfavoured and supplanted by Deng), and the "overthrow of the rule of im- perialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism,"" present-day socialist China is making overatures to Western capitalism, building staggering numbers of new hotels to house the "foreign devils," and cashing in on trade -- and the emperors of legend who left such historic treasures as the Great Wall, the Warriors (just try and take a photo -- one must BUY same), and the For- bidden City of old Peking. This massive complex, recently the locale of the film The Last Emperor, covers over 250 acres of ground and is fronted by the vast Tian An Men Square, the heart of Beijing. Now known as the Palace Museum, the Forbidden City was built circa 1420 and served as palace for the Ming and Quing Dynasties. Hun- dreds of buildings, halls, gates, private apartments and museums make up the 999 rooms. Many of the world's most precious artistic objects are housed here. And great ceremonies were held in the Taihedian (Hall of Supreme Harmony). The ci- ty now struggles to keep the complex tourist-worthy as contem- porary hordes storm its halls seeking communion with Yong Le, Empress Dowager CiXi, or poor Pu Yi. An excessive Empress, to say the least, Dowager CiXi, in addition to her atrocities, was also responsible in 1880 for renovating the Summer Palace on Lake Kunming on the North- West border of Beijing. Here stand the Bridge of Floating Hearts, the Pavilion of Precious Clouds, Longevity Hill, the Long Pro- menade (one-half mile), and the controversial Boat of Purity and Ease. Constructed of solid marble, never to set sail, this folly was built with funds diverted from the Chinese naval budget in an act of defiance. Now tourists loll about its environs and jos- tle for photographic footing -- the new revolutionaries. We'll leave the grim tombs, Quin, Han, Tang, and Ming, to their petrified pasts. (Overheard at Tang Princess Yong Tai's Tomb near Xi'an: 'Is she really in there?"' Answer: "No smok- ing, please.)"' There's too much to be said in too short a space. The Ontario teachers seminar concerned a lifetime's infor- mation barely touched on here. Meanwhile, the author is still dazedly absorbing the enormity of the country and its culture. From Shanghai's famous waterfront Rund to the jolting twenty- one hour train journey across the loessal plateau from Nanjing to Xi'an, the entire experience was an Odyssey of discovery. "Twenty minutes' was NEVER enough. And one further thing was committed fully to memory; if an Air China plane is schedul- ed to depart at 8:50 A.M. -- don't count on it. Transportation is another whole story in the 1988 China Saga. Enough said. Next Week: postscript. MACKEY & BAILEY BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Saturday Mornings - 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon Lake S Lumber Building Oshawa Rd.. Port Pery (16) 989-7391 Denture Therapy Clinic JOANNE DEKKING, D.T. 1330 Ritson Rd. N., M (Ritson at Taunton) onday to Saturday Oshawa, Ont. L1G 626 436-9888 Stevenson goes for nomination (From page 1) He is presently working as a consultant for a Toronto-based public affairs firm, Advance Plan- ning and Communications Limit- ed. The company interprets govern- ment legislation or predicts gov- ernment policy. It also assists companies in dealing with that legislation or preparing them- selves for a change in government policy at either the federal or pri- vincial level. Mr. Stevenson brings to this position both his academic exper- tise and professional experience in the fields of environment, agricu- ture and economic issues. He is a graduate of Uxbridge Secondary School, the University of Guelph with a Bachelors and Masters of Science degree, and a PH.D. from Iowa State Universi- ty, and is a former Professor of Crop Science for the Ontario Agricuture College. The new Durham Riding en- compasses the Townships of Scu- gog and Uxbridge; the Town of Newcastle, the Town of Whitby, north of Taunton Road and Oshawa, north of Rossland Road. Christian meeting The first fall meeting for the Port Perry Area Christian Wom- en's Club is scheduled for Thurs- day September 8 at 9:30 a.m. at the Latcham Centre on Queen and Water Streets. The Christian Women's Club is interchurch and non-sectarian with 2200 groups across Canada, U.S.A. and around the world. There is a special feature of cur- rent interest, a musical presenta- tion and an out-of-town guest speaker each month, yet there are no memberships or dues. This month the special feature is "Room For Improvement" by Jane Galbraith of Wallpaper Won- ders. Rebecca Helsden, a professional vocalist, will be bringing a de- lightful musical presentation. Mrs. Marion Shields, a Toronto homemaker and mother of four sons, as well as a humourous and popular speaker, will be telling a special story. All interested women of the Port Perry area and all the sur- rounding communities are espe- cially invited by making a reserva- tion for both the continental breakfast and the nursery. For reservations, call Cheryl at 985-7516. Custop, ah Swim Plugs 1 '39, 50 PORT PERRY CLINIC HOGAN'S HEARING AID CENTRE of Port Perry DENNIS J. HOGAN 230 Queen Street * NOTE NEW NUMBER * 985-4422 WED. ONLY 1to 5PM