Like millions of people across the world, my eyes were riveted to the television during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. To describe it as spellbinding would be a gross understatement. History, grace, art and culture all infused into what many are calling the benchmark Olympic Opening Ceremony of all-time.

Aside from the astounding athletic pursuit displayed, these Games offer us a glimpse into the vast mysteries of the Orient. A couple of years ago my family and I were fortunate to travel around China on a three week trip to adopt my youngest daughter.

I know well the pictures emanating from Beijing. Chairman Mao’s portrait overlooking the concrete expanse of Tiananmen Square. The Forbidden City. The Temple of Heaven and the ancient, back alley areas known as the Hutong. We witnessed the massive infrastructure changes as the new Olympic arenas, dormitories and hotels were being built. At the now famous Bird’s Nest Stadium, our bus was stuck in an enormous traffic jam as structural steel was delivered to the construction site. Curiously, we saw road and business signs erected that featured both the complex pictograph characters of the Chinese language and English.

I can vividly recall driving forty miles to the north of Beijing to the Great Wall at Badaling. Unbelievably, these same steep and winding roads were used in the Olympic Cycling competition. And like Branson, Badaling is a town of seven thousand people that hosts several million annual visitors. And the people in Badaling, like in Beijing and in Branson, were universally friendly.

If you have enjoyed the Summer Olympics and the Chinese experience surrounding them, then I would encourage you to see one of Branson’s most popular productions- The New Shanghai Circus.

An exquisite melding of Chinese art, magic and athletics, the New Shanghai Circus has delighted Branson audiences and won many awards, including the “Best Show of the Year” and the “Branson Peace Award”. Their performers have earned Gold and Silver International medals and prizes for their supreme skills and creativity and have toured through the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Korea, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Enjoy the Olympics and be sure to come visit us in Branson.

Xie Xie! (Thank you!)

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