Ethereal China: Lessons from the Middle Kingdom

I lived in the Middle Kingdom nine years ago. Zhongguo (中国), the actual Chinese name for China, literally translates to "Middle Kingdom." The country has deep historical roots and a traditional view of itself as the center of the world. I think the term

"Middle Kingdom" sounds grand, ancient, and slightly mysterious...the perfect name for this beautiful country.

I went back recently with my husband Bill. Here are a few excerpts from my time there then and now.

It was fun watching Bill's reactions to a different culture. He finally tried chopsticks and I am happy to say he didn't starve. To say Chinese driving is "interesting" is a massive understatement—Bill thinks it is an extreme sport. It's a synchronized dance of chaos and unpredictableness scored to a never-ending symphony of honking horns. Bill said you haven't lived until you have gone through a Chinese intersection.

Red lights? Merely a suggestion.

Pedestrians? Objects to be swerved around and honked at.

Motorcycles and bicycles? A challenge to see how many people can pile onto one frame--or how many cases of pop can be strapped to the sides. With no seat belts, bicycle helmets, or baby car seats, there is a certain terrifying sense of "freedom."

Life Lesson: Who says getting somewhere should be boring?

The Case of the Missing Toilet

It wouldn't be fair if I didn't share a rather surprising experience I had in 2016 right after I landed. Fresh off the plane, I hurried into the airport restroom, opened the stall door, and stopped dead in my tracks. There, right where a familiar porcelain seat should be, was nothing but a ceramic-lined hole in the floor. My genuine, unfiltered first thought was: "Who on earth would steal a toilet?!"

It was a total squat toilet—something this North American traveller had never encountered before. That's the standard style across much of Asia! Oh, and to add a layer of adventure to the mix? There is almost never any toilet paper provided. You quickly learn to carry your own tissues everywhere you go!

Life Lesson: Expect the unexpected, pack your own tissues, and remember travel sometimes requires extra leg strength!

"Don’t Be Scary"

"My English name is Haha," our guide informed us. "It means laughter." She was full of advice: "If you are buying pearls for your wife, buy top quality. If they are for your girlfriend, get them on sale." I’ll let you make up your own life lesson for that one.

Haha took us to what she called the "Emperor’s Palace," which completely flipped my expectations. When you think of a palace, you expect gleaming gold, sprawling courtyards, and sweeping views. Instead, Haha led us deep underground. Who builds a palace under the earth? The air grew instantly heavy and damp, smelling of ancient stone and centuries of silence. We descended five dark, cold flights of stairs deep into the earth. There, bathed in the weak, flickering light of a single, solitary bulb, stood three stone thrones: one for the deceased Emperor, one for his wife, and one for his favorite concubine.

The adjacent room held massive, empty wooden trunks that once housed unimaginable treasures intended for the afterlife—treasures that now sit behind security glass in a modern museum. It struck me so profoundly: the Emperor thought he had absolutely everything, when in reality, he left this world with nothing. Haha advised us as we left that dingy place, "Don't be scary!" I think she meant "Try not to have nightmares".

Life Lesson: "For what will it profit a man, if he gain the whole world but lose his own soul?"  Mark 8:36

The Breath of Life

In Beijing, breathing the air for one day is reportedly equivalent to smoking seventy cigarettes. Stepping out into that thick haze forces you to pause and evaluate something we so easily take for granted.

Life Lesson: Appreciate the air we breathe. If it wasn't for God, we wouldn't take our next breath. "In Him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28

Seeing the Great Wall was an amazing adventure.

Standing on those worn stones, feeling the mountain wind, it is staggering to imagine generations of workers building and defending this ancient barrier for over two thousand years.

According to China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration, the official historical length of the wall system is a mind-boggling 21,196.18 kilometers (13,170.7 miles)! I imagined the soldiers living in the little lookouts for months at a time. It is a breathtaking testament to human resilience.

When you travel through China, your senses are constantly treated to the unexpected. Here are a few beautiful snapshots that stole our hearts:

• The Beautiful People: Resilient, warm, and exceptionally kind. Our guide, An, possessed such a gentle, sweet spirit that we won't soon forget.

• The Landscape: Beautifully manicured and pristine. Honestly, I don't think I saw a single weed!

• The Mystery: Grocery store aisles filled with wonderfully "mysterious" items that kept us guessing. (Let’s just say potato chip flavors over there range from squid to cucumber, and we weren't quite brave enough to try them all!)

• The Joy: Coming across groups dancing in the streets in the evenings—and the locals politely ignoring my complete inability to keep up with their rhythm!

• The Atmosphere: Old-fashioned lamps lighting up quiet lagoons at dusk, accompanied by a ribbiting froggy chorus.

 Life Lesson: Connection Translates Beyond Language. You don't need to speak the same language to share a moment of joy. Dancing badly with locals and being met with polite, warm smiles proves that kindness and laughter are universal currencies.

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The Architecture: The architectural whiplash is stunning. In one direction, you are looking at a 2,000-year-old wall built by hand, stone by heavy stone. In the next, you are in Tianjin (Teda Binhai), looking straight up into the future at the seventh tallest building in the world, soaring ninety-three floors into the sky. China truly has one foot planted in ancient dynasties and the other stepping into tomorrow.

 Life Lesson: The world is full of wonders, but the most beautiful landscape is empty without the people who make our hearts feel at home. The ultimate luxury in life isn't just getting to see the world, but having precious people to see it with. The absolute highlight of my journey was getting to share all of these moments with my Bill and sharing so many moments with our precious friend, Dr. Connie.

A Better Country

I find myself missing the ethereal, timeless beauty of China, but the journey has ultimately turned my thoughts toward a much greater home. Jesus told us that He is going ahead to prepare a place for us. The late Keith Green once posed a profound question:

Life Lesson: "If Earth is so beautiful after six days of creation—what does Heaven look like after 2,000 years?" I cannot even imagine the glory of that place. I pray you will be there.

Blessings, Beloved of God.