7/1/08

Nanjing, and waiting for flight bookings!



Photo credit: chinahighlights.com

This morning we received our consulate appointment from China, and we are currently waiting to hear from the travel agency about flights! Looks like we're confirmed to leave on the 23rd or 24th of July, returning on the 6th of August. We have yet to determine whether we'll fly into Beijing or HongKong...so we're a little nervous and tapping our fingers! I think once we get our flights booked, it will be a great weight lifted off our shoulders. In the meantime, things are a little frantic!
While we're waiting...here's some info on Nanjing, the city where we will see our daughter for the first time! This info is from wikipedia.com:

Nanjing
(Chinese: 南京; Romanizations: Nánjīng (Pinyin), Nan-ching (Wade-Giles), Nanking (Postal map spelling)) is the capital of China's Jiangsu Province, and a city with a prominent place in Chinese history and culture. Nanjing (literally: 'Southern capital') served as the capital of China during several historical periods, including as the former capital city of Republic of China, and is listed as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Nanjing is also one of the fifteen sub-provincial cities in the People's Republic of China's administrative structure, enjoying jurisdictional and economic autonomy only slightly less than that of a province.
Located in the lower Yangtze River drainage basin and Yangtze River Delta economic zone, Nanjing has always been one of China's most important cities. Apart from having been the capital of China for six dynasties and of the Republic of China, Nanjing has also served as a national hub of education, research, transportation and tourism throughout history. With an urban population of over five million, it is also the second largest commercial center in the East China region, after Shanghai.
Nanjing, with a total land area of 6,598 square kilometers (2,547.5 sq mi), is situated in one of the largest economic zones of China, the Yangtze River Delta, which is part of the downstream Yangtze River drainage basin. The Yangtze River flows past the west side of Nanjing City, while the Ningzheng Ridge surrounds the north, east and south side of the city. The city is 300 kilometers (186 mi) west of Shanghai, 1,200 kilometers (746 mi) south of Beijing, and 1,400 kilometers (870 mi) east of Chongqing.
Nanjing has a humid subtropical climate and is under the influence of the East Asia Monsoon. Seasons are distinct in Nanjing, with usually hot summers and plenty of rainfall throughout the year. Along with Wuhan and Chongqing, Nanjing is often referred to as one of the "Three Furnacelike Cities" along the Yangtze River (长江流域三大火炉) for the perennially high temperatures in the summertime.[1] The average temperature during the year is 15.7 °C (60 °F). The average high temperature in January is 19 °C (66 °F) while the average low is 2 °C (36 °F); the average high in July is 31 °C (88 °F) with an average low of 25 °C (77 °F).[2] The highest recorded temperature is 43 °C (109 °F) (July 13, 1934), and the lowest −16.9 °C (2 °F) (Jan 6, 1955). On average it rains 117 days out of the year, and the average annual rainfall is 1,106.5 millimetres (43.6 in). The time from mid-June to the end of July is the plum blossom Meiyuseason, during which the city experiences a period of mild rain as well as dampness.
Nanjing is endowed with rich natural resources, which include more than 40 kinds of minerals. Among them, iron and sulfur reserves make up 40 percent of those of Jiangsu province. Its reserves of strontium rank first in East Asia and the South East Asia region. Nanjing also possesses abundant water resources, both from the Yangtze River and groundwater. In addition, it has several natural hot springs such as Tangshan Hot Spring in Jiangning and Tangquan Hot Spring in Pukou.
Surrounded by the Yangtze River and mountains, Nanjing also enjoys beautiful natural scenery. Natural lakes such as Xuanwu Lake and Mochou Lake are located in the center of the city and are easily accessible to the public, while hills like Purple Mountain are covered with evergreens and oaks and host various historical and cultural sites. Sun Quan relocated its capital to Nanjing after Liu Bei's suggestion as Liu Bei was impressed by Nanjing's impeccable geographic position when negotiating an alliance with Sun Quan. Sun Quan then renamed the city from Moling (秣陵) to Jianye (建邺) shortly thereafter. [3]

4 comments:

Carrie said...

So happy for you girl! Whoo-Hooooo!

Vivian M said...

Yay!!! Things are starting to happen very fast now, or so it seems. How exciting!
We are so very happy for you both, more than we can express here. Love and hugs!

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

I am getting butterflies - this is getting a little exciting now... I mean gee... we have been waiting for Flynn for so long now... I say 'bring her on'...

Heather said...

So this must mean that you will meet Flynn on July 28th! That's this month! Only 26 days from now! Our whole fmaily is brimming with joy for you all!