China Tour 2001

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone!

I just got back from my fourth consecutive record-breaking concert tour

of China! Now my problem is, how do I fit 6 weeks of concerts into a few

paragraphs? Well let me try. We started this wonderfully successful concert

tour in the city of Xining in the Western part of China, and ended

it in the city known as the “Hawaii of the Orient,” Haikou, in southern

China. ( This newsletter as well as photos from the tour will be posted

to the website this week. Please take a look later in the week at http://www.Gentille.com

under China Tour Newsletter.

However, before getting into the nitty gritty of my tour, I’d like to

share some exciting news with you. The Ministry of Culture informed me

as I was leaving China that this visit was a precedent setting tour on

several fronts in that I was the very first American to ever perform in

the city of Haikou, and the only Western performer to perform in the city

of Xining. Not only that, now I have performed significantly more China

concerts than any other non-Chinese performer, having given 51 performances

in 31 cities. These very unique statistics will certainly help promote

my next tour, as well as offer some much needed exposure to the many animal

welfare groups in the Orient that I mention during each of my performances

and who I support through donations from each show.

Here are the main highlights of the tour:

1. I had lunch in Shanghai with Jill Robinson from the Animal Asia Foundation

and presented her with a donation for the wonderful work she is doing to

rescue the caged-for-life black bears from the bear farms where their sole

purpose is to produce bile, the benefits of which can be easily replicated

through the use of man-made products. Just the most horrible treatment

of animals imaginable. Please visit her site if you have a moment at: http://www.AnimalsAsia.org.

and please, please support her tireless efforts in anyway you can. Next

year, I am hoping to do a special concert in Hong Kong for her organization

and help raise more awareness for the plight of the black bears on the

mainland. She is a miraculous worker for the animals and I feel very privileged

to know her and to have the opportunity to help her in her fight for a

better life for the animals.

In addition, I met with a wonderful lady and animal lover at the China

Education Television Station in Beijing who wants to do a show on improving

animal welfare in China. We will have more discussions about this during

the year, and I hope to be able to help in their efforts to launch this

program in 2002.

2. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy listening to the talents of the

Chinese children as they play the piano for me. And what a thrill and privilege

it was for me to play with twelve children at six pianos as a farewell

to China for 2001 during my last performance in Haikou! The skill level

and dedication of these Chinese music students is truly amazing. It seems

their talents have no end. They are also so warm and charming. The children

of China and my concern for the treatment of all living creatures are the

two main reasons I look forward to returning to China each year. If I can

ever find the time (and believe me I will!) I plan to write a book about

my travels to China in the next few years.

3. To experience the seas of China (at least once!), I went swimming

in the sea at Haikou. Fortunately, this was before reading about the recent

shark attacks in Florida and North Carolina. And just when I was getting

brave again! I hardly ever go in the water since seeing Jaws, but I thought

I’d give it a try anyway.

4. Visiting the “little guest house” of Chen Feng, who is the Chairman

of Hainan Airlines, one of the tour sponsors, was truly another wonderful

experience. His “little guest house” is an unbelievable mansion on the

beach. The sponsors told us we were going to the beach, so I dressed appropriately

in casual beach attire. However, they failed to mention that our trip to

the beach also included an elegant formal dinner at his ‘guest’ house!

Oh well, underdressed or not, we had a great time. He is a fascinating

man who speaks perfect English and is also a vegetarian. You don’t think

he was just telling me that to make me happy knowing that I was one as

well, do you? I also met his fabulous cook who cooked the most outrageously

delicious tofu dishes I had ever tried. The Chinese are definitely the

greatest tofu cooks in the world!

5. Observing some Chinese police dogs in action was also a very positive

experience for me. I know many people don’t believe animals should be used

for work purposes of any kind, but I must say I was happy to see that these

beautifully kept animals were indeed serving a very useful and critical

purpose as they assisted their masters in fulfilling their police responsibilities.

I would much rather see an animal working and treated well, (and the officers

really seemed to love their companions) instead of on a plate as is too

often the case in the Orient. (If you don’t believe that dogs and cats

are eaten in the Orient, you need to read some more.) I speak out for all

animals on my tour, but especially for the dogs, cats and bears.

6. What can be better than the thrill of coming home to America? You

know, I love my travels to China, and the fact that I have a chance to

make a difference for children and animals alike, and to perform across

their vast country, but I always appreciate returning to North America

so much. One can never fully appreciate the country we live in until you

experience a developing country that has yet to achieve the richness of

our home. We, as Americans, are truly blessed in so many ways! God Bless

the USA!

Now I am off to Canada for an exciting promotional tour of my new Christmas

album. I am also doing a concert on September 23 at the Toronto Centre

for the Arts. If you are in Toronto, I hope to see you there! Have a great

month and I hope you enjoy my China photos.

 

 

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LINDA DONATES MONEY from her MP3 site to local spay/neuter projects.

Listen to her music for FREE and HELP THE ANIMALS with JUST one

click at:

http://www.mp3.com/Gentille

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE! every time you help the animals.

 

Linda Gentille, Cape May New Jersey, USA

http://www.Gentille.com

http://www.AnimalAidTour.com

http://www.LGAL.org ( Linda Gentille Animal League)

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