We just returned from a quick getaway to the mainland. For Mia this was a big event - her first trip into mainland China. Mom had filled out all the paperwork for her a few weeks ago to get her China Return card so she could enter (she does not need a passport or visa like her parents do).

We went to Shaoguan (韶关) in northern Guangzhou as part of a 3-day company trip and had lots of fun with our colleagues touring several famous spots in that region. Our itinerary included the caves of Gu Fo Yan (古佛岩), the scenery at the top of Dan Xia Mountain (丹霞山), and the 1500 year old Nan Hua Temple (南华寺). The later of these was really interesting- it was home to Hui Neng where he established the southern sect of Zen Buddhism in the Tang dynasty. (It even has his mummified remains, which I have never seen in a Buddhist temple before.) Also, outside one of the courtyards is a giant Bodhi Tree that everyone ran around to become a bit more "enlightened".

Mia took it all in stride and as usual added a lot of life to the group!