Thanks for the ideas. I cut and pasted some stuff from allearsnet.com and wdwinfo.com to include with a proposal to DS's teacher. I know it's not "real" but the movie and the fact that they replicate some of the architecture will probably work for 3rd grade. Teaching DS to say hello in Chinese and there are the exhibits.
Here's a little of what I found:
The "Wonders of China:
Land of Beauty, Land of Time" is a 360º Circle-Vision film shown in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Spectacular scenery and stunning footage of China includes the Great Wall, the Forbidden City of Beijing, the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia, the Yangtze River and the tropical rain forests of Hainan Island.
I hope this exhibit is still there:
Land of Many Faces - An exhibit introducing China's ethnic peoples. This is an incredible exhibit! You will not find the gallery exhibits anywhere else in the United States. In the "House of the Whispering Willow", exhibits showcasing China's rich cultural heritage are found. Currently the "Land of Many Faces" exhibit includes Chinese arts, embroidery, masks, instruments and clothes of China's ethnic peoples.
I love this kind of detail in the structures:
The triple arched ceremonial gate, like that found in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, welcomes visitors to the World Showcase version of China. Traditional Chinese music adds to the soothing ambiance of this peaceful place.
The three-tiered, circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest is a one-half scale reproduction of its counterpart inside the Temple of Heaven complex near Beijing. Many of its architectural details, both inside and out, have important significance to the Chinese people. Inside the hall, there are 12 outer columns supporting the roof. They represent the 12 months of the year and the 12-year cycle of the Chinese calendar. Closer to the center of the room are 4 columns representing the four seasons. These columns support a beam, representing Earth, which is topped by a round beam, signifying Heaven.
To reflect the gardening style of China, the pavilion features a very loosely structured landscape. There is no strong feeling of being either inside or outside of the garden. The lack of structure of the China garden is deceiving because, as in the Japan garden, the symbolism is strong. Chinese gardens are designed to be quiet, still and passive, as in the meditation pool. The zoysia grass is left alone to grow as it would look in China. Plants are used sparingly with the accent on those with unusual color.
I think it'll work but even if I can't get them to excuse his absence (only 2 days) we're going! Can't wait!
