Another fringe benefit of going on my China tour, is the opportunity to sample some of the culture. In Shanghai, a group of magicians went to see an interactive play where we followed the actors through the different sets and scenes. It was an immersive experience and really impressive. It was like being in a movie.
China Tour, Next Stop – Changsha
The next stop after Shanghai on my China tour was Changsha. This is the home town of my good friend, Daly. Daly was the magician that organized the tour. We’ve been friends for 10 years and met at a magicians’ convention in New York. It is limited to 200 of the best magicians in the world. You can only attend if you are invited and sponsored by two magicians that have already attended.
After seeing me perform at that convention, Daly and I became friends. He is one of the top magicians in China and presents much of his magic on national TV specials, seen by millions of people.
In Changsha, I gave a lecture to the local magicians. I also had time to sample some cuisine from that region. It is know for its spicy food. I love trying new food and this time in China, I had some items that I’d never had before.
China Tour, Xiamen, The Garden City
The next stop on the tour was Xiamen. It is in the south and known as the Garden City. They have a beautiful theatre there and the reception was warm and friendly by the local hosts. I was always impressed by the promotion that was created for the tour. In Xiamen, a large wall poster was fantastic and was the backdrop for all of the selfies that were taken after the show. I didn’t have any time to explore Xiamen as the following day I was up very early to catch a flight to Beijing.
Final Stop – Beijing
Beijing was the last city on the tour. It was also the longest day, as after I arrived at the airport, I was taken to the theatre to present my lecture, workshop and show. It was a long and full day. Even though I was concerned about being tired, the day went really well and the presentations were really well received.
The following day was my last in China. The hosts in Beijing took me for a tour of the Summer Palace. It was built by the Emperor for his mother and is remarkable. Our tour guide explained how and when it was built. It took over 13 years to complete as there is also a large man-made lake.
Later in the day, I went with several local magicians to a pedestrian area of Beijing. I loved walking and absorbing the sites. I had a candy made for me in the shape of a rabbit. The method was like magic.
For dinner, we attended a dinner theatre with a multi-course meal. In between each meal, there was entertainment in the form of dancing, acting and martial arts. It was a phenomenal meal to conclude the tour. The last activity was to attend a magic bar. Max, the owner and fantastic magician treated us to some amazing magic and drinks. It was a long day, but an amazing way to conclude the tour. I’m back home, but looking forward to the next time I’m able to visit China.