Tiananmen Square

Five days and counting. You could be the lucky winner for the Trip for Two to China, sponsored by yourLDSNeighborhood and to be drawn on July 24th . . . and you could be standing in the center of Tiananmen Square, named after Tiananmen, literally interpreted to mean the Gate of Heavenly Peace, which bars the way to the Forbidden City.

In order to be eligible to win this exotic and thrilling grand prize, you must subscribe to the Neighborhood Newsletter. Filled with wonderful articles, products, services and interviews conducted by Utah personality, Rebecca Cressman, the newsletter is dropped into your inbox four times a week. It has become the most looked forward to newsletter amongst our subscribers, of which you can be one. So back to Tiananmen Square . . .

Tiananmen Square stands in the center of Beijing. First a gate, and now a square, it was destroyed off and on, at times only a gate and other times, like now, an actual square. It is now, actually, the biggest open urban square in the world.

The Tiananmen Gate was first built in the 1420s in the Ming Dynasty. During the demise of the Ming Dynasty, heavy fighting between Li Zicheng and the early Qing emperors damaged (or perhaps destroyed) the gate. In 1651 (early Qing Dynasty), the Tiananmen Gate was renovated. During the Ming and Qing eras, there was no public square at Tiananmen; instead, it was a T-shaped walled courtyard flanked by offices various ministries, bureaus and agencies.^{[citation needed]} It was enlarged to its present size and cemented in 1958. ^[2]

British and French troops who invaded Beijing in 1860 pitched camp near the gate and briefly considered burning the gate and the entire Forbidden City down. They decided ultimately to preserve the palace and to burn instead the emperor's Summer Palace. The Qing emperor eventually agreed to let the foreign powers establish headquarters in the area. During the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 the siege badly damaged the office complexes and several ministries were burnt down. In the conflict's denouement, the area became a space for foreign troops to assemble their armies and horses. It was cleared in due course to produce the beginning of what is now known as the Tiananmen Square. The Square, however, was not officially made until the PRC took power in 1949. ~ Wikipedia

My minor in college was history. Being surrounded by and steeped in the history of a people which have existed for millennia is something which would thrill me to no end . . . alas, I am employed by the Neighborhood so I'm out of the running for this fantastic grand prize, but you aren't! Subscribe now to the Neighborhood Newsletter and toss your hat into the ring . . . maybe you'll walk away with the grand prize, maybe you won't. But at least you'll have a fantastic newsletter to look forward to four times a week.

Gaylen, the CEO of yourLDSNeighborhood, is aching to give this Trip for Two to China to somebody . . . why shouldn't it be you?

China's Forbidden City

I'll be honest, until yourLDSNeighborhood decided to award a free Trip for Two to the lucky winner, I'd never though about the Forbidden City. But before we get into the details, you might be wondering how YOU could be that lucky winner. By subscribing to the Neighborhood Newsletter your hat is tossed into the ring and you become of the possible lucky ones. First, you get a newsletter which drops into your inbox four times a week filled with wonderful articles, products, services and interests from around the world. And second, you could win that trip to China where you'll get the chance to check out China's Forbidden City.

So, you might be asking yourself, just what is the Forbidden City? Well I'm not talking about the Hollywood version, but the real thing. I picked up some information from Wikipedia about this ancient place:

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government.

Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 bays of rooms^[1] and covers 720,000 square metres. The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture,^[2] and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987,^[2] and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. ~ Wikipedia

Imagine walking up those ancient steps into the Forbidden City and steeping yourself in ancient Chinese tradition and majesty. Simply drop by the Neighborhood and subscribe to the Neighborhood Newsletter and see if July 24th is your lucky day.

The Great Wall of China

On July 24th, yourLDSNeighborhood will draw a winner from all their Neighborhood Newsletter subscribers, which number in the thousands, to win a Trip for Two to China. Yes, an exciting time will be possible for all who receive the Neighborhood Newsletter in their inboxes four times a week. Filled with wonderful articles, products, services and interviews from around the world, the Neighborhood Newsletter is one of the most popular newsletters available to people. And just a quick reminder, it's not too late to be included in the drawing. Just click on any of the links above and subscribe and you're "in like Flynn." But it was China we were talking about . . .

One of the places you'll get to visit on this fabulous vacation is the Great Wall of China. So I thought we'd take a quick look at one of the famous Seven Wonders of the World, or are their eight now? But I digress.

The Great Wall of China winds up and down across mountains, deserts, grasslands and plateaus of China. It stretches over 4,100 miles, can you imagine that, running east to west across that vast expanse of the Orient.

Constructed over 2,000 years ago, from Wikipedia we learn:

"The long wall of 10,000 Li (里)"^[1]) is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from Xiongnu attacks during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China, were built since the 5th century BC. The most famous is the wall built between 220–200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang; little of it remains; it was much farther north than the current wall, which was built during the Ming Dynasty.^[2]

The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. At its peak, the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men.^[5] It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.^[6] ~ Wikipedia

Rich in history and sorrow, the Great Wall of China brings thousands of visitors each year. You have a chance at actually standing on this ancient wall, steeped in the history which surrounds it . . . if . . . you subscribe to the yourLDSNeighborhood Newsletter.

So drop by the Neighborhood today and toss your hat into the proverbial ring . . . you just might win.

yourLDSNeighborhood Huge Giveway in 14 Days

Fourteen days and counting. yourLDSNeighborhood has been running a tremendous promotion which is reaching its climax July 24th. For every person who signs up for the Neighborhood Newsletter they become eligible for one of the fantastic prizes we've got lined up. Your days are running out, my friends, if you want a chance at a free 7 day, 6 night trip to China or one of the dozens of other prizes up for grabs.

If you win, you and a friend will be on your way to visit one of the world's most exciting and historic cities. Located close to famous sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, you will be immersed in Chinese culture and enjoy the breathtaking panoramas this nation has to offer. Beijing offers something for every type of traveler. And what is this great trip valued at? $4,000 . . . all for signing up for and receiving the Neighborhood Newsletter.

So you might be asking yourself why yourLDSNeighborhood is willing to shower so many gifts on its customers. It's as simple as this: yourLDSNeighborhood burst onto the scene in 2007, bringing to the market a unique idea for a business. They launched a website with a unique design, a neighborhood comprised of blocks revolving around art, books, jewelry, sports and recreation, home and family and more. Businesses from around the nation leased buildings on the blocks, providing a plethora of shopping opportunities for the Neighborhood browser. They then launched the Neighborhood Jukebox where music can be downloaded. Oh, but they didn't stop there, they're not far from launching a radio station.

It's a wonderful place to visit, browse and shop. But one of the greatest things I like about yourLDSNeighborhood -- the Newsletter. It drops into your email inbox four times a week filled with wonderful articles, interviews, products and services . . . all with an LDS perspective.

So how do you visit this great Neighborhood? Simply go to http://yourldsneighborhood.com. How do you sign up for the Newsletter and become eligible for one of this great prize? Simply sign up for the Neighborhood Newsletter at http://yourldsneighborhood.com/Subscribe.aspx.

So come on over to the Neighborhood and join us. You might just win a 7 day 6 night to China!

Shannon Hale and Brandon Mull to Write for Charity

New York Times best-selling authors, Shannon Hale and Brandon Mull have organized a wonderful charity event catering to writers and benefiting those around the world in need of wheelchairs.

WRITING FOR CHARITY

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Several children's authors, including New York Times bestsellers Shannon Hale and Brandon Mull, are hosting the Writing For Charity event at the Salt Lake City Main Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, with all the profits going to The Wheel Chair Project.

The Wheel Chair Project is a branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Arm. Over 100 million people worldwide need wheelchairs with very little hope of ever getting one. The Wheel Chair Project provides those wheelchairs regardless of religion, culture or country. This is your chance to learn from the best, improve your craft and help someone desperately in need become mobile. What more could you ask from a Saturday?

100% of the proceeds (after the nominal location fee) go to The Wheelchair Project. A wheelchair can completely change the life of a disabled person, offering mobility, increased independence, and a chance to go to school or find employment. Because this charity is administered by volunteers with LDS Philanthropy, there is no overhead and every penny donated goes directly to purchasing wheelchairs.

Participating authors: Brandon Mull (Fablehaven); Shannon Hale (Princess Academy); best-selling fantasy authors Laura and Tracy Hickman , Mette Ivie Harrison (The Prince and the Hound), A.E. Cannon (Pirate Pete and Pirate Joe), Kristyn Crow (Bedtime at the Swamp), Becky Hickox , Kimberley Heuston, Anne Bowen, Aprilynne Pike, Ann Dee Ellis, Mike Knudson, Wendy Toliver as well as agent Amy Jameson and editor Chris Schoebinger.

The writers will talk about their process, how to write for a young audience, storytelling tips, and the ins and outs of the publishing business. In addition, participants can have their picture book text or first page of their novel work shopped by professionals.

When: Saturday July 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Salt Lake City Main Library (200 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Why: The events purpose is to raise money for The Wheel Chair Project

On the day of the event, participants need to bring 15 copies of the first page of your novel or picture book text (maximum word count: 300 words) for some hands on workshopping.

Space is limited, first come first serve. To reserve your spot, mail in the $45 registration fee.

• Mailing address: 1176 E 2620 N, Provo, UT 84604-4132
• Make checks to: “LDS Philanthropies” (the organization that runs The Wheelchair Project) and write “Wheelchair” in the memo line.
• Also include: Your name, age, phone number, and area of interest--picture book writing, fantasy novel, or realistic fiction novel.
• Cost: $45 (tax deductible -- be sure to ask for a receipt when you get there)

The Event breaks down like this:

9:00 am -- Registration
9:15 - 10:15 am -- Panel discussion in the auditorium
10:30 - 11:15 -- Break out discussions in topic groups
11:30 - 1:00 -- Small group workshops

Shannon Hale was willing to answer a few questions, which she posted on her site.

"Are there still spaces available?"

As of today, there are oodles! But please register in advance rather than wait for the day of. We have a limited time frame to get everyone registered that morning. Pre-registering not only guarantees you a space but will make it faster for you that morning and you won't miss anything.

"I don't have a first page of a book to workshop. Can I still come?"

Yes! During the workshop portion, it will still be instructive to listen to other people's pages being workshopped, and I promise no one will point at you and laugh. Except maybe Brandon Mull.

"I sent in my check and haven't received anything in return!"

And...you won't. Sorry. We are an orphan Annie operation (as my dad would say) and aren't set up to be all cool like that. But if you sent it in, we have it and there should be no problem.

"Can kids participate?"

Sure! We're going to have one break out group just for teen writers. Younger than that might be bored. My four-year-old, for example, will be staying home.

So here's my suggestion. Mail in your registration right now. This will be a day you don't want to miss.