2023 China Travel Notes: Hunan Theme [John Wei]
2023年中国行记：湖南篇【卫高荣】
Author: John Wei, The Founding Chairman of Chinese American Economic & Cultural Association (CAECA)
作者：卫高荣 美中经济文化协会创办主席
My 35 days 2023 China trip are Xiangyang, Hunan, Liaoning, Beijing 4 themes.
Here is the Hunan theme.
我的中国行有四大主题：襄阳篇、湖南篇、辽宁篇、北京篇。本文记录的是湖南篇。
During the three years of the epidemic, I have been like a caged bird, rarely able to travel, let alone leave the country. Looking back on time, I visited Mainland of China on behalf of the Chinese American Economic and Culture Association in 2019, the year of China’s 70th National Day military parade. In 2023, when the epidemic was basically over and life gradually returned to normal, I was invited by relevant parties in China to start my overseas visits.
疫情三年，犹如囚笼之鸟，难得出行，更不说出境了。回望时间，我代表美中经济文化协会去中国大陆访问，已是2019年中国国庆70周年大阅兵那年的事情了。2023年，疫情基本结束，生活逐渐恢复正常，受中国有关方面邀请，我便开启了我的出访问工作。
My second destination during my visit to China is Hunan Province
湖南，我中国行的第二站
October 21, 2023
I enjoyed a reunion with my relatives and family members in Yanling County, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province. It is worth mentioning that Zhuzhou is the sister city of Durham in North Carolina.
【10月21日】
在湖南株洲炎陵老家与家人团聚 。值得一提的是，株洲市与北卡罗莱纳州的德拉姆市（Durham）是姊妹城市。
October 22, 2023
I had a gathering with Mr. Chen who is the chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultant Conference (CPPCC) of Yanling County, Zhuzhou City, along with the secretary, principal, and vice principal of Number One Middle School of Yanling County.
【10月22日】
在湖南株洲炎陵县与政协主席陈先生及炎陵县第一中学领导的书记、校长、副校长等相聚。
October 23, 2023
I paid my respect to my ancestors: my grandfather and grandmother in Yanling County, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province.
【10月23日】
在湖南株洲炎陵祭奠先祖：爷爷、奶奶
October 24, 2023 (I)
I paid my respect to the American pilot, Mr. Robert Upceurch, who was a “Flying Tiger” and died during his fighting against the Japanese invaders during WWII in Guidong County, Hunan Province. The local people erected a monument for him. The participants here included Mrs. Fu who is the vice chairperson of the CPPCC in Guidong County, Director Li, Mr. Chen who is the chairman of the CPPCC of Guidong County, my relative Wu Qiusheng, and my niece Wei Aiping.
When Fu Minlan, vice chairperson of the CPPCC in Guidong County, Hunan Province, introduced the great deeds of the American Flying Tigers pilot Robert, She and I were moved by the 21-year-old American young man who risked his life to support the Chinese government's against the Japanese invaders.
【10月24日】
（一）在湖南郴州桂东县悼念美国“飞虎英雄”罗伯特·厄普邱奇。参加悼念活动的有桂东县政协副主席扶女士、李主任、炎陵县政协主席陈先生，我的家人吴秋生以及侄女卫爱萍。
湖南省桂东県政协副主任扶敏兰介绍美国飞虎队飞行员罗伯特伟大的事迹时，有感于美国21 岁的年轻人冒着生命危險來支援中国政府抗日事迹，自己也不禁的流下感动的眼泪。
The English version of the story of Guidong
英文版的桂东故事
October 24, 2023 (II)
My visit to Guidong Historical Museum in Binzhou City, Hunan Province.
【10月24日】
（二）在湖南郴州参观湖南郴州桂东历史纪念博物馆
Persons in the photo:
Chairman Yang of Guidong CPPCC (6th from left); Mrs. Fu who is the vice chairperson of the CPPCC of Guidong County (7th from left); Chairman of the CPPCC of Guidong County Mr. Li (8th from left); Mrs. Zhong who is working for the CPPCC of Guidong County (9th from left); Chairman of the Guidong Overseas Chinese Association, Mr. Chen (1st from right).
左六：桂东县政协杨主席、左七：桂东县政协扶副主席、左八：桂东县政协李主任、左九：桂东县政协钟女士、右一：桂东县侨联主席陈先生
October 24, 2023 (III)
My visit to the Mausoleum of Yandi who was one of the two common ancestors of all Chinese people. (Another one was Huangdi).
【10月24日】
（三）祭拜炎帝神农大帝
October 26, 2023 (I)
I had a gathering with a local official in Yuhua District, Changsha City.
【10月26日】
（一）与湖南长沙雨花区领导相聚
October 26, 2023 (II)
I was accompanied by the local officials in Zhuzhou City.
【10月26日】
（二）与湖南株洲市领导相聚
October 26, 2023 (III)
My friends in Zhuzhou City celebrated my 77th birthday.
【10月26日】
（三） 株洲市的朋友为我庆祝77岁生日
October 27, 2023 (I)
My visit to the Yuelu Academy in Changsha, Hunan Province.
【10月27日】
（一）参观湖南长沙岳麓书院
My picture taken at the gate of the Yuelu Academy.(I)
在岳麓书院大门前的留影（一）
Group photo with friend Yan Hua
与好友晏华的合影
My picture taken at the gate of the Yuelu Academy.(II)
在岳麓书院大门前的留影（二）
October 28, 2023
My friends celebrated my 77th birthday at Huachen Hotel.
【10月28日】
在华晨大酒店庆祝我77岁生日
John Wei (left); Zou Houjun (right)
左：卫高荣、右：邹厚军
I was grateful to the manager of Huachen Hotel who arranged the celebration of my birthday dinner.
感谢华晨大酒店邹董事长为我安排的生日晚宴
A special gathering with relatives and friends.
亲朋好友共聚一堂
We were celebrating and laughing.
举杯欢庆
After my eight-day tour of Hunan Province, I said goodbye to my home province. We took “Harmony,” a high-speed train, heading toward the next destination of my visit to China. May US-China relations go like this train, “Harmony”, always running forward.
圆满结束了八天的湖南之行，挥手告别可爱的家乡，我们又乘坐和谐号，开往访问的下一站。希望中美关系就像这列火车的名字一样，“和谐的”，不断向前行驶。
We boarded the Harmony High-speed train and headed to the next stop of our visit. May U.S.-China relations be like a harmonious train, running forward.
我们登上和谐号高铁，前往下一站。愿美中关系像一列和谐列车，向前行驶。
国泰民安，世界和平！
Let the world stay in peace forever.
感谢所有參与的同事：
张伟用，任平，Justin Yan,Amy Yu，刘洋，李宏鹏及辽宁友协，Amber Li, 汪柯及襄阳外办，郑志发，李勐。
