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| Today was departure day and before our flights left, we asked to visit the giant panda area. Ghengdu is the home of the giant panda. |
We noticed lots of people wearing panda style clothes |
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| which looked really cute. |
even a film crew with panda head gear! |
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| There was every type of panda symbols and art. |
and some loving proverbs. |
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pandas everywhere! |
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| and one large pand enjoying his breakfast of bamboo roots |
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| at the end, "Panda" Chen Chun gave us a stuffed panda to take home - which my 12 year old niece "immediately" decided was hers!!! It was time to say goodbye and my travel companions CIA Secretary General Kimmo Mattila and Crystal Wang, Executive Secretary China Accordion Association had to depart for the airport. |
We were all very sad to say goodbye but also so very happy for a wonderful China Youth Tour. Huge thanks to Prof. Li Cong, China Accordion Association President and Crystal Wang for arranging such an amazing tour. |
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| As my flight was later in the day, I was able to fit in a visit to the local music store (above), and the Sichuan Conservatory of Music which was founded in 1939. This has a very important accordion department with 10 tutors. |
The school has two campuses headquarters and there are 30 undergraduate programs and 453 tutors. The accordion department has 10 accordion tutors and they teach in the 15 story music building which includes a 700 seat hall and 3 smaller halls. |
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Xia Gang, Chen Chun, Harley Jones,
Because it was Sunday, everything was closed, but I enjoyed a most enjoyable time with some of the tutors from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music which is one of the important accordion conservatories in China. It was then my turn,to sadly say goodbye and to go to the airport and depart. |
