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Tours and Travels

2025 China Residency, Oct. 12–13: Qingdao—Hangzhou and Beijing

October 15, 2025
Oct. 12, Qingdao: Today was a travel day from Qingdao to Hangzhou, a flight of almost two hours. Violinists Eliot Heaton and Daniel Han walk to security at Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport after checking in.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 12, In the air between Qingdao and Hangzhou: Violinist MuChen Hsieh and Associate Concertmaster Christine Lim on the flight.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 12, Beijing: Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts President and CEO Ryan Fleur meets with Wang Ning, president of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). The Orchestra first performed at the NCPA in 2008. We have enjoyed a fruitful partnership for NCPA for many years, which has made numerous special performances possible, including side-by-side concerts with the NCPA Orchestra in both China and the U.S., pop-up performances at the Great Wall of China, celebrations of the 50th anniversary of our first visit in 1973, and more.
Oct. 12, Hangzhou: The flight as it arrives at Hangzhou International Airport.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 12, Hangzhou: The tour party is greeted at the airport.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 12, Hangzhou: Associate Principal Cello Priscilla Lee arrives at the hotel in Hangzhou where she picks up cellos on loan for the outdoor video shoot that is scheduled in Liangzhu in a few days.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 12, Hangzhou: Violist Che-Hung Chen takes advantage of a free evening for a feast.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: The tour party paid a visit to the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, where they will film a video to be shown at beginning of the Liangzhu Forum, a conference that will discuss the modern relevance of ancient civilizations, archaeological site protection, museum innovation, and the preservation of cultural heritage. The visit allowed the musicians to block the set-up for the video shoot, which takes place on the 14th, and also to have a deeper understanding of the rich history of this area. Priscilla and Marvin chat on the bus ride to the ruins.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: The entrance to the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in the Yangtze River Basin, from about 3,300–2,300 BCE.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: The party traveled the vast complex by golf carts.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: MuChen admires a field of flowers.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: Daniel and Assistant Concertmaster Marc Rovetti feed some deer at the first stop of the tour.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: The group is led by an English-speaking tour guide, who shared interesting information on the ruins, which consist of a cluster of Neolithic sites. Initially excavated in 1936, they belong to a previously unknown civilization, named Liangzhu culture in 1959. The site was confirmed as an ancient city after the discovery of its city walls in 2006.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: Violist Hsiang-Hsin Ching poses in a rice field with the granary in the background.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: The party gathers on a stylobate, a continuous flat coping or pavement supporting a row of architectural columns, at the site of Mojiaoshan, a palatial compound in the center of the city.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: The musicians pretend to play their instruments at one of the sites for tomorrow’s video shoot.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: A moment of levity captured at the site.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: The tour of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City continues.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: The tour pauses at a model of what the city once looked like.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: Che-Hung stops to read one of the signs at the site.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: Cellist Alex Veltman gives an interview at the end of the tour.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: Hsiang-Hsin checks out an app that allows you to see what a particular location looked like back when it was a thriving city.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: Everyone returns to the golf carts for the ride back to the entrance.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: After returning from the tour, several members of the tour party eat lunch at a mall near the hotel.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: Priscilla checks out a car dealership in the mall.

Photo by Chris Lee

Oct. 13, Hangzhou: Alex uses some of his free time to practice in his hotel room.

Photo by Chris Lee