This video is of the entrance to the Forbidden city with the Gold knobs, which people believe gives them good luck if they rub while passing by. Next in the video, I show the courtyard of Supreme Harmony where I include the intricate handmade artwork surrounding the complex, the vast stonework of the railings and walkways, and metalwork of the huge cauldrons placed around the exterior which were used to burn oil at night and/or in the winter for light and/or warmth.
After a fantastic week sightseeing in Beijing, I have finally arrived at my host university, the Southwest University for Nationalities, where I will spend the next 10 months learning and advancing my Chinese skills both in and out of the classroom. In this video, I give a little detail about my first day in Chengdu and give a tour of my living facilities that will become my home while I am here in China.