When I first heard about the Chinese Terra Cotta warriors' discovery in 1974, I submerged the idea and hoped that someday, some way I would get to see them. I also felt that I would love to stroll on the Great Wall of China. They were described as two of the wonders of the world. And then it happened.

My sister-in-law, Clara, proclaimed that our little traveling group, six of us, would be going to China. The six of us would spend two weeks jetting around the Peoples Republic of China. We would go first to Beijing then Xian (home of the Terra Cotta army), then Shanghai and Guilin and finally to Hong Kong. Since China is so huge we would jet from place to place.

Our China trip started on 42nd Street and 12th Avenue. I didn't even know that New York City had a 12th Avenue - that is the Chinese Consulate. You have to get a visa if you are going to China; $50 a head and wait four days and pick up your visa.

It is a 14-hour, non-stop trip to the Peoples Republic. The polar route is interesting. You pass over Hudson Bay in Canada - a lot of ice. Next, you fly over the North Pole on your way to Siberia - more ice and snow. Then you are flying over Mongolia and finally China.

You have watched three feature films - two in Chinese with subtitles and one in English with headphones. Two full meals have been served and you get real antsy just sitting there. There is no night as you are following the sun. Sleep comes and goes and comes and goes again.

Fourteen short little hours and "voilà" you deplane in Beijing, China, capital of mainland China. Our guide Simon greeted us at the airport. He would be our guide, friend, confessor and confidante for the next 13 days. We drove on a modern, comfortable bus to our hotel, the Shangri-La Hotel. Ronald Coleman, the actor in the movie, was not on the premises.

The hotel was ultramodern with an indoor swimming pool, hot tub and exercise room. The room was spacious with wonderful Asian touches.

Breakfast in Beijing was outstanding. Every kind of cereal, eggs and breakfast meats were available. If you wanted an Asian breakfast that, too, was possible. The fresh fruits, watermelon, pineapple, etc. were luscious.

Due to heavy industry the skies were smoggy and gray. Our first stop was Tiananmen Square, the world's largest square. A huge portrait of Mao Tse-tung overlooked the proceedings and gave his sanction to the events below. No tanks, no student demonstrations.

It was our first experience with persistent peddlers who sold knockoff watches, hats, fans, postcards and cute and clever toys. I bought a baseball-type hat for $1 that told of the Olympics in Beijing in the year 2008.

They say that the crane is the most popular bird in Beijing. They mean the "construction crane." All over the city huge condominiums and office buildings are being built. It is for the 2008 Olympics and also that rural China is leaving the farms and moving into urban areas. Canyons of half-built and just-finished buildings are everywhere. China and its major cities are booming.

The Forbidden City of the Emperor (how could it be forbidden if they allowed tourists?) was next along with the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. You better have good walking shoes if you expect to cover all of these pagodas and religious shrines. The buildings are in gold, blue and red paint.

How about some Peking Duck for supper?

To be continued.