38th Day: Beijing, 7 September 2008
10:00 Departure by plane for the return of the last member of the Green Project to Athens. The return of “green” cars of mission in Greece is realised with boat, according to the initial plan.
37th Day: Beijing, 6 September 2008
10:00 Visit in the “Exhibition Space of Built-up Planning Beijing”. In his rooms is presented with the use of high technology, in the three thousand year history of city, while is elected also impressive Olympic Beijing.
15:00 Is addressed invitation from the Ambassador Mr. Kampanis for the honorary presence of representative of Green Project in the ceremony of beginning of Special Olympics. It should be noted that the Organising Committee of Olympic Games of Beijing has placed as objective the games to display particular characteristics of Chinese culture. The three basic characteristics of the Beijing Games are “Green Olympics, High Technology Olympics, Human Olympics”. More specifically, the protection of ecosystem with the use of technology friendly to the environment and with the intensification of ecological conscience of citizens is the condition for the planning and the manufacture of Olympic Works.
20:00 the ceremony of beginning of Special Olympics is more from impressive for all that are in the National Stage of “Nest of Bird”. Green Project is there. The architectural planning of Stage is realisation of collaboration of Swiss company Herzog and De Meuron with ArupSport and China Architecture Design Institute. Artistic adviser, person in charge for the planning is the Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei. The stage, as neighbouring National Swimming Centre, known as “Aquatic Cube”, they constitute excellent examples of use of biometrics in the modern architecture. For the manufacture them they have been used materially high technology, friendly to the environment, as the Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). Is a material with exceptionally spoil, very thin, but also durable, in the light, membrane. The natural lighting of swimming center economises energy up to 30%. In the all Olympic installations becomes extensive use of systems of collection and exploitation of water of rain and solar energy.
36th Day: Beijing, 5 September 2008
10:00 Recording of Temple of Sky, which is found in the more southern department of central vertical axis of city. This monument has been included in the List of World Cultural Heritage (World Heritage List) the UNESCO. Completed in 1420 and it reflects the Chinese perception that the sky is circular and the ground level, symbolizing the balance from each other. The emperor, as “Son of Sky”, was considered the conjunctive ring between the supreme deity, the Sky and the persons, and was person in charge for the natural phenomena and the fertility of ground. The temple of Sky constitutes one from the bigger groups of temples of world with extent four times of bigger than that of Prohibited City. The central building constitutes the symbol of Beijing. The Temple is supported in twenty-eight wooden joists that correspond in the celestrial constellations equal in number. No metal nails have been used for its manufacture. The alfresco space where it frames the group functions as park which daily is submerged by thousands of Chinese.
12:00 The opening of multimedia exhibition “Giorgos Seferis” which is realised with exceptional success in the “Greek House”, in the frame of Cultural Year of Greece in China. It circulates Chinese translation of Giorgos Seferis.
35th Day: Beijing, 4 September 2008
11:00 Official visit and presentation of Green Project in the Greek Embassy. The ambassador Mr. Kampanis and executives of Embassy congratulate the volunteers of GP for their effort, pointing out that it constitutes the unique mission that achieved it reaches in Beijing in 2008.
15:00 Collaboration with the Office of Press of Embassy, then command of Mr. Ambassador, for the most optimal appointment of realisations of walking.
34th Day: Beijing, 3 September 2008
10:00 Part of team visits the Great Wall or differently “Long Wall” in the Chinese language, which has been included in the List of World Cultural Heritage (World Heritage List) the UNESCO. Its manufacture, in today’s form is reported to have taken place during the Dynasty of Ming (1368-1644).
11:00 The remaining team records the exhibits of important Museum of Ancient Chinese Architecture (Gudai Jianzgu Bowuguan), which are accommodated in the space of Xianmong Alter, where the Emperors of Dynasties Ming and Qing made sacrifices. The exhibition spaces offer rich documentation with regard to the development of residences and temples in China, providing building observations that concern in different time periods and localities.
15:00 Visit in Carrefour Plaza, in the region Zhongguancun, which covers completely her energy needs with solar systems.
20:00 Part of mission departs by plane for the programmed return in Athens.
33rd Day: Beijing, 2 September 2008
07:00 Arrival in Beijing.
11:00 after special authorisation which is honorary granted by the Chinese Ministry of Culture, the team presents the objectives of mission in the “Greek House”, in the region DongCheng, to Chinese factors of Cultural Year of Greece in China, executives of Greek Embassy in Beijing, and representatives of Greek Ministry of Culture. In the frame of event, the team presents also part of material of 30.000 photographs that was assembled at the duration of thirty days of walking. This space entertains cultural events that are organised at the duration of Cultural Year and it is accommodated in a small traditional residence.
13:30 Recording of the finish of the journey in the historical square Tian’ anmen. H square acquired her name from the homonym Gate (Gate of Celestrial Peacefulness, from where Mao nominated the Republic of China in 1949), was shaped in her current provision in 1958 and is the bigger square in the world, 400.000 square meters.
15:00 Visit and recording of Prohibited City of Beijing, where are located the Imperial Palaces, monuments included in the List of World Cultural Heritage (World Heritage List) the UNESCO.
16:00 Members of mission return in north-western Beijing and visit the Summer Palaces (Yiheyuan), included in the List of World Cultural Heritage (World Heritage List) the UNESCO. It is bigger and more impressive Imperial Gardens in the world, a total of gardens, palaces and temples of Chinese Architecture built round the lake Koynmin. Big extensions and configurations became the 18th century under the emperor Qinalong.
32nd Day: Xi’ an, 1 September 2008
10:00 Visit in the Mausoleum of first Emperor of dynasty Qing (221-206 BC), monument included in the List of World Cultural Heritage (World Heritage List) the UNESCO, with the 6000 warriors from terracotta (Bingmayong), that were discovered the decade of `70s. It is of important archaeological interest extent with three installations, by which second is covered from big circular form iron shelter with bioclimatic characteristics, for the protection of extensive cavity in which is found part of earthen warriors.
13:00 Members of mission visit the group of baths Huaqing Chi, in distance of 30 km of East of the city, where are found underground sources of hot waters. The installations of exploitation of theraputic baths functioned particularly at the Dynasty Tang (618-907 AD.).
20:30 Departure for Beijing, travel of duration of 11 hours.
31st Day: Maiji Shan, 31 August 2008
7:30 Having breakfast in the plush mountain range of Maiji Shan between Lanzhou and the Xi’ an. The streets have been blocked by endless hordes of motionless lorries, that causes important delays. In the Chinese hinterland there is an explosion of construction development: new streets, tunnels, airlifts with background the wild nature compose a surreal setting.
16:00 Arrival and overnight stay in the Xi’ an.
30th Day: Lanzhou, 30 August 2008
9:30 Arrival in Lanzhou.
12:00 Visit in the group of Buddhist temples in the hill of White Pagoda, that is located in Baita Shan. Near is the metal bridge Zhongshan that connects the two banks of Yellow river which is named after the actual colour of the waters.
15:00 Visit in water mills hat is found in the opposite bank and that their initial manufacture is reduced in the means of 16th century. The current mills, with diameter 16,50m., are reproductions of the original installations, that were placed in placed in 1993, when water museum was founded.
19:00 Departure for the Xi’ an.
29th Day: Dunhuang, 29 August 2008
10:30 Arrival in Dunhuang.
12:00 Tour in the city, while part of mission visits and records neighbouring hydroelectric station. Afterwards is realised visit with vehicles of combustion of gas, limited emissions CO2 in the locality Yumen Pass, most important station of Streets of Silk, where apart from the archaeological discoveries of fortifications by building with bricks the 3rd eg. century (Han Dynasty) is recorded a solar park of force 8,4 KW which was installed there with the aid of Japanese Government.
18:00 Departure by car from Dunhuang with the same vehicles of combustion of gas, as the railway station by which it exists connection with the city Lanzhou is found in Liuyuan, in distance of 120 km from Dunhuang. The way is impressive. It goes through desert, where the soil has brown-black nuances of lignite which are extensively excavated.
20:30 Departure for Lanzhou, a 12 hr journey.
28th Day: Urumqi, 28 August 2008
11:00 Departure from Urumqi with destination Turpan. The region of Turpan is found in position below sea level and presents highest temperatures in China (more than 45oC).
15:30 Visit in the region Dabancheng District, which is found between the cities Urumqi and Turpan. It is the bigger Aeolian (wind) park of Asia (Dabancheng Wind Power Generation Site), total force 6×6.6MW, which unfolds in enormous level extent, which interrupts the passage of central road artery. Our team takes the opportunity to film with both video and photographs.
18:00 Visit in the underground installations of water supply Karez of total length 5000 (!) km outside from the city Turpan, which was sometimes important commercial centre on the Streets of Silk.
21:00 Departure for Dunhuang. The 12hr journey goes through vast desert area, that neighbors with Southern Mongolia.
27th Day: Zharkent, 27 August 2008
08:30 Departure for the city of Khorgos, on the borders, half in Kazakhstan and half in China.
12:00 The customs procedures last for less than an hour. It is the fastest passage of borders from our experience in Central Asia. The Chinese dignitaries proved to be exceptionally noble and hospitable.
13:00 Entry in China wearing T-shirts with the sponsors. Green Project becomes first (!) foreign mission which enters in 2008 in China by car from her north-western borders.
14:00 Departure from Khorgos with vehicles of combustion of gas of limited emissions CO2, with destination the city Urumqi, distance of 700 km The way through the province Xinjiang Uyghur offers pictures of particular beauty, tall mountains, plateaux with settlements from yurt (scenes of circular ground plan with wooden skeleton), lakes round which unfold vast flatlands with stunning golden brown colors, with a contrast of barren desert. The majority of the inhabitants of this region are Muslim.
16:30 Members of mission visit settlement Kazakhs of nomads in the banks of lake Sayram Hu, where the mission located the extensive use solar powered panels.
22:00 Arrival and overnight stay in Urumqi.
26th Day: Almaty, 26 August 2008
12:00 Departure from Almaty by road for the borders Kazakhstan-China with vehicles of combustion of gas of limited emissions CO2. Destination is the city Zharkent, which is 300 km from Almaty. The journey is impressive through steppes, mountains and gorges.
20:00 A bit off schedule (!) the customs operations imposes the overnight stay in Zharkent.
25th Day: Almaty, 25 August 2008
11:00 Presentation of Green Project in the Greek Embassy in Almaty. The mission is honoured by the presence of the Ambassador Mr. Kontoboynisios. Words of support for the initiative are expressed describing this as the first step in collaboration between Greece and Kazakhstan in cultural and environmental issues.
14:00 Discussion with the local authorities for passage through the borders of China. It is pointed out that contrary to other similar missions, Green Project is the only one that has ensured the necessary visas for China. The entry of our “green” cars in China with train is allowed. The use wagon-it the night will help in the better exploitation of time.
