Women's Basketball in Beijing

Dec. 30, 2007 :: During the climb, it was hard to miss the newly-constructed sign to the right of the wall. A large advertisement for the upcoming 2008 Olympics, it served as a reminder that the city of Beijing and the country’s greatest tourist spots would soon have the entire world fixated on it in just a few months.

Women's Basketball in Beijing

Dec. 30, 2007 :: Just beyond the sign, the group reached the pinnacle of its journey, taking a moment to appreciate the view and snap a few pictures before eventually making the adventurous decent. On their way back down, a number of players made sure to grab commemorative t-shirts emblazoned with the words “I climbed the Great Wall of China,” in honor of their expedition.

Women's Basketball in Beijing

Dec. 31, 2007 :: On New Year’s Eve morning, the Emmanuel crew set out to visit the Temple of Heaven. Covering an area of about 2,700,000 square meters, the domain was built during the Ming dynasty to provide sacrifices to Heaven. Its great size is meant to reflect Chinese rulers’ reverence for the great above, as no emperor would dare have his own residence be bigger than the one dedicated to Heaven.

Women's Basketball in Beijing

Dec. 31, 2007 :: The temple’s grounds serve as a popular congregation area for many locals. Whether it was singing, dancing, group exercising or games, the tour proved a wonderful opportunity to witness the country’s people going about their daily lives. Players even took part in public group exercising within the park.

Women's Basketball in Beijing

Dec. 31, 2007 :: Later that afternoon, the team played its first Chinese exhibition against Beijing University. One of the top team’s in the country, Beijing impressed the Saints with its size and strength, as well as its ability to move the ball around the court. Although ultimately falling 68-40, the Emmanuel players viewed the game as an educational glimpse into the Chinese style of play.