Wednesday morning there is a group dining in the other restaurant from the main dining room where the breakfast buffet is located. It appears to be a distinguished group of Chinese from the government. The main dining room is a buzz with most of the tables filled with Asian tourists. Still I am among the minority in the dining room. As I peruse the buffet, I splurge and select a fried egg, a steamed bun filled with red bean, and orange and apple slices. I find a place at one of the large tables next to two women. They are delightful women and we quickly warm to each other’s company (Paula from Colorado and Norma from New Zealand). We enjoy chatting about how they met before I began an informal interview regarding how they selected this area for travel. They have scheduled their tour via Exit Asia and flew to Huangshan from Beijing. The ladies will be hiking on Huangshan Mountain today and staying overnight at the Beihai Hotel. The Beihai Hotel is located up on the peak where the tourists can witness sunset and sunrise. They will return to the Huangshan International Hotel on Thursday so I look forward to seeing them at breakfast to see how they enjoyed their tour of the mountain.
Later as I return to my room I see two buses loading with VIPs . . . later I learn they are members of the People’s Congress are departing for a day of sightseeing here in Huangshan. As they depart the buses are led by a van covered by flags and music blaring from speakers.
The highlight today is visiting Huangshan University campus and meeting the faculty and students of the Tourism Management program. Much like many of China’s universities, there is an old campus and a new campus. The Chairman of Huangshan University meets me and we proceed to a conference room. We exchange business cards and begin our business discussion regarding our respective academic programs. We are served green tea as is the custom for all meetings in China. Fortunately I love a cup of hot green tea. Just as I receive a second refill the group suddenly scurries about and I am told it is time to move to the room where I will be presenting my lecture. The campus is busy with students playing basketball or scurrying off in small groups of 2 or 3. As we approach the building where my lecture will be held, I notice students smiling and waving to me. I love the friendliness of the Chinese students. When I walk into the auditorium, it is already filled with several hundred students. There are students standing at the back entrance and others standing at the windows. What a wonderful surprise! The stage is set and several students whisk off with my computer to set it up to the data projector.
Later as I return to my room I see two buses loading with VIPs . . . later I learn they are members of the People’s Congress are departing for a day of sightseeing here in Huangshan. As they depart the buses are led by a van covered by flags and music blaring from speakers.
The highlight today is visiting Huangshan University campus and meeting the faculty and students of the Tourism Management program. Much like many of China’s universities, there is an old campus and a new campus. The Chairman of Huangshan University meets me and we proceed to a conference room. We exchange business cards and begin our business discussion regarding our respective academic programs. We are served green tea as is the custom for all meetings in China. Fortunately I love a cup of hot green tea. Just as I receive a second refill the group suddenly scurries about and I am told it is time to move to the room where I will be presenting my lecture. The campus is busy with students playing basketball or scurrying off in small groups of 2 or 3. As we approach the building where my lecture will be held, I notice students smiling and waving to me. I love the friendliness of the Chinese students. When I walk into the auditorium, it is already filled with several hundred students. There are students standing at the back entrance and others standing at the windows. What a wonderful surprise! The stage is set and several students whisk off with my computer to set it up to the data projector.
Huangshan University audience
The highlight today is visiting Huangshan University campus and meeting the faculty and students of the Tourism Management program. Much like many of China’s universities, there is an old campus and a new campus. The Chairman of Huangshan University meets me and we proceed to a conference room. We exchange business cards and begin our business discussion regarding our respective academic programs. We are served green tea as is the custom for all meetings in China. Fortunately I love a cup of hot green tea. Just as I receive a second refill the group suddenly scurries about and I am told it is time to move to the room where I will be presenting my lecture. The campus is busy with students playing basketball or scurrying off in small groups of 2 or 3. As we approach the building where my lecture will be held, I notice students smiling and waving to me. I love the friendliness of the Chinese students. When I walk into the auditorium, it is already filled with several hundred students. There are students standing at the back entrance and others standing at the windows. What a wonderful surprise! The stage is set and several students whisk off with my computer to set it up to the data projector. The Chairman of Huangshan University introduces me to warm applause. Cristine translates my presentation so that the students and faculty can glean the most from my hour long presentation. Unfortunately, I do not pause often enough for the translation to occur. I will need to work out a signal for future presentations. All in all the students and faculty appear to have enjoyed the presentation. After I conclude my comments, I ask for questions. They are a bit hesitant to come forth with the questions at first. After the first student was brave enough to ask a question, the others begin to raise their hands. The questions are excellent. They really had fantastic questions that illustrated critical thinking. One young man asked how historic buildings and places could be protected without the government’s assistance. This really started the discussion about assuming responsibility and leadership in the future of one’s community.
Huangshan University Faculty
I loved the dynamic discourse. The meeting concluded with an exchange of gifts and photos.
Huangshan University campus
After the presentation the faculty and I were off for a tour of the new campus. At first they were going to drive me around the campus, but I insisted on walking. Large numbers of students were playing basketball, ping pong, and working out on the track. The athletic areas are located adjacent to the residential halls. All students live on campus so the residential halls look like a small city in of its own. The new campus is centered on a central plaza with the large library serving as the focal point. The trees and small lake give the campus a park like appearance that reminds me of the beauty of the University of Utah. I enjoyed talking to one of the faculty as we walked around the campus.
During my presentation on sustainable heritage and cultural tourism, I had commented about the importance of showing your guests authentic foods, restaurants and entertainment. I did not realize that I was changing the plans of my hosts. They changed the location of dinner after hearing my lecture. I am so glad that they did . . . although I know the other location would have been good food, this was authentic. We discussed the architecture of the building and even visited the kitchen area. Instead of the typical menu guests are invited into an area where the food is on display in a variety of pots and woks. My hosts ask me to select the dishes. Well this is a challenge. I want to try everything but I order about 8 different dishes plus a few cold dishes to start the meal. Then we return to the entrance. We are shown upstairs to a private dining room. Our servers are wonderful. They are full of smiles and warm hospitality that transcends our language barrier.
Our wonderful service staff
I loved the food and the evening of conversation. I was very pleased with the selection of dishes including beef, fish, chicken, bamboo, tofu, and a couple that I am not sure exactly what they were . . . except they were delicious. Two of my favorites were food prepared cleanly and simply. One of the dishes was made from rice flour and flavored with herbs and meat. Did not look too great, but looks were not to be trusted. The other dish was simply celery, sweet bell peppers, and onions (I think) in a light sauce. This was an outstanding, fresh tasting dish that was a great way to clean the palate before moving onto the next dish. We exchanged toasts and enjoyed each other’s company. There was a great deal of laughter and friendship shared during the course of the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Wang arrive and join the table. More toasts and more laughter. During dinner my hosts inquire if I am up to a 5 Kilometer walk tomorrow. I quickly do the math in my head and respond of course! No problem! 5 kilometers = 3.1 miles. I have walked 4 miles in an hour and a half so this should be easy. This statement would come to haunt me on the next day.
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