china trip 2018
The Sons of Scotland Pipe Band had the wonderful honour of sending a group of pipers and drummers to China as guests of the Rideau Stone Arts Centre and Patrick and Yvonne Lin who sponsored the trip.
The band had done work with the Rideau Stone Arts Centre in 2017 when they helped support fundraising efforts for their concert at Ottawa City Hall to help the Gatineau flood victims, and at TD Place during the visit to Ottawa of the Mayor of Beijing and many diplomats from China at Beijing Week 2017. From there a great friendship was forged, and trip planning was underway to bring the band to China to celebrate events there and to enjoy some wonderful touring and making friends - and that they did!
The band departed Ottawa on April 25, and their long journey brought them to Beijing via Chicago almost 20 hours later. They were escorted to a welcome dinner where they met many dignitaries who would accompany them on their 6 day stay, and began a wonderful and exciting stay in China!
On April 26, the band took a tour of the Forbidden city and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and then took a bus trip to perform as guests of the Capital Steel Corporation at a performance at a local grade school - what a tremendous day with lots of things to see and lovely people to meet!
April 27 took us to tour the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese, and then we did a short performance outside at the statue of famed physician Dr. Norman Bethune. We played a set of tunes out in front of the museum for visiting schoolchildren, and then headed to the airport to fly to Chengdu. Our 3 hour flight landed us in Chengdu, and then we took the 3 hour coach trip to Suining. We stayed at a lovely hotel which hosted the Walk for the Enivronment.
April 28 saw us visiting the Song Dynasty Porcelain Museum, and then we did a walk around the downtown of Suining for a while. We played that evening at the reception for the Walk for the Environment, and enjoyed a superb dinner. We headed into downtown after that for a visit, and returned to the hotel.
April 29 we played at the Walk at the start and finish of their event and entertained thousands alongside other very traditional acts. We headed back to Chengdu by coach after that, and had an evening free to visit.
April 30 we were taken to see the pandas at the Chengdu Research Base, and then off to the airport we went. After that, we went by plane back to Beijing and rested.
May 1 we visited the Great Wall of China and then returned to Canada by plane.
We had a magnificent time and will never forget this wonderful trip to China!
The band had done work with the Rideau Stone Arts Centre in 2017 when they helped support fundraising efforts for their concert at Ottawa City Hall to help the Gatineau flood victims, and at TD Place during the visit to Ottawa of the Mayor of Beijing and many diplomats from China at Beijing Week 2017. From there a great friendship was forged, and trip planning was underway to bring the band to China to celebrate events there and to enjoy some wonderful touring and making friends - and that they did!
The band departed Ottawa on April 25, and their long journey brought them to Beijing via Chicago almost 20 hours later. They were escorted to a welcome dinner where they met many dignitaries who would accompany them on their 6 day stay, and began a wonderful and exciting stay in China!
On April 26, the band took a tour of the Forbidden city and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and then took a bus trip to perform as guests of the Capital Steel Corporation at a performance at a local grade school - what a tremendous day with lots of things to see and lovely people to meet!
April 27 took us to tour the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese, and then we did a short performance outside at the statue of famed physician Dr. Norman Bethune. We played a set of tunes out in front of the museum for visiting schoolchildren, and then headed to the airport to fly to Chengdu. Our 3 hour flight landed us in Chengdu, and then we took the 3 hour coach trip to Suining. We stayed at a lovely hotel which hosted the Walk for the Enivronment.
April 28 saw us visiting the Song Dynasty Porcelain Museum, and then we did a walk around the downtown of Suining for a while. We played that evening at the reception for the Walk for the Environment, and enjoyed a superb dinner. We headed into downtown after that for a visit, and returned to the hotel.
April 29 we played at the Walk at the start and finish of their event and entertained thousands alongside other very traditional acts. We headed back to Chengdu by coach after that, and had an evening free to visit.
April 30 we were taken to see the pandas at the Chengdu Research Base, and then off to the airport we went. After that, we went by plane back to Beijing and rested.
May 1 we visited the Great Wall of China and then returned to Canada by plane.
We had a magnificent time and will never forget this wonderful trip to China!
