Old Bengbu orphanage sites

I was able to see some of the old sites of the Bengbu orphanages in the past.


Above is a shopping plaza that now occupies the space where the Bengbu SWI stood prior to 2003. None of the structure remains.

It amazed me that for a children's shop, western faced children are on the billboards. I know I'm jaded, but to me, Chinese children are far more cute!

Ms. Wan posing in one of the mini 3-wheeled "cars" for sale in the shopping plaza.

Ms. Wan worked at the old orphanage which is now a shopping plaza. She told me that the only vestige of the old orphanage is the power transformer which still stands. She looked at it wistfully. I wish I could see her memories!

This is a photo of the site where the orphanage was from 2003 to 2007. I was there. There's absolutely nothing left of it. New buildings (presumably hotels) are being erected on the site. The shore of Dragon Lake is being transformed into a modern pedestrian walking areas.

Thanks and friendship

This post is dedicated to the donors for the children of Bengbu. Families who have children from Bengbu SWI, families from all over the world - Netherlands, America, Spain, Australia, Norway, Canada, New Zealand. Because of the donors, all this is possible. A special thanks to Suzanne Erstad and all of her fundraising efforts this past year for the children!

Thank you all for enabling me to help with Bengbu. I have made some wonderful friendships with the kind people of Bengbu.

Me and our new volunteer Li Rui.

Outside a restaurant "sampling" some fresh lotus root.

The beautiful ladies of Bengbu SWI.
As a surprise, the orphanage presented me hand-stitched artwork which was painstakingly made over months by the orphanage children.

The reason why we are all here together...

Click to see more of life in Bengbu city.

donations to the orphanage

Packages of Hope has been supporting the orphanage since 2005. Many adoptive families that have gone for a visit there have seen our donations there. The orphanage director has given speeches at conferences about how well our relationship works in providing for the children at the orphanage, and how we are able to maintain connection to the orphanage.

This year, we have provided gifts for Chinese New Year, as well as donated 4 cabinets for different rooms in the orphanage.

Have a look at the photos and the video!
Blankets donated. (the beds themselves were also a POH donation from years past!)

Ms. Wan posing on riding toys donated by Packages of Hope

A therapy room in the orphanage, staffed by trained therapists

Beautiful children!

Director Song with a beautiful child!

Jeff  and Li Rui pose with the kids and a cabinet donated by Packages of Hope

Me with the kids!

A desk donated by Packages of Hope

Another cabinet donated by Packages of Hope

Children learning with the nanny!

Click to see a video of the orphanage

Click to see video of the Bengbu orphanage sites prior to 2007.

Below is a video of the Bengbu SWI

Below is a video of a performance rehearsed just for me! The kids had a blast, and I was so honored!

Visiting the orphanage

Sidewalk poetry written in water

A flutist playing in the morning in the central part of Bengbu City

The proof of our relationship with Bengbu SWI can be found in orphanage where donations from Packages of Hope provide physical evidence to our devotion to the children and our support of the caregivers there. In return, the orphanage director, in continuing messages to me to the orphanage families, encourages a return to the orphanage and visits to China, in order to strengthen ties in our global community.

My good friend Kay had purchased a ticket for me for the 3.5 hour fast train ride from Shanghai to Bengbu. This was a huge difference from when I had visited in 2005. Back then the train was nearly standing room only, and took 8 hours with several stops. This time, the train was ultramodern, and zipped along at a brisk 140km/hour (around 88mph), and only stopped in Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing and Hefei before stopping in Bengbu. Although the train ride had been upgraded, the train station in Bengbu is still as it was, which was a bit older, but still serving its purpose well. The volunteer who usually helps me in translating with the orphanage, Sun Lele was not available to accompany me with Ms. Wan, on account that she is working in Hefei. Sun Lele is a Bengbu native, and will soon be getting married in September! I was instead joined by her student, Mr. Li Rui, a charming 19 year old boy whom I had never met and who had never acted as an intepreter before and who had never visited an orphanage before. I was met by Ms. Wan and Mr. Li at the gate, and we walked away to their parked car which was located about a mile away.

We were on our way to the orphanage, where I met with Director Song, and we presented letters to the director from the families of children who had lived in the Bengbu SWI before being united with their forever families.


From L to R: Li Rui, Jeff, SWI director Song, and orphanage director Ms. Wan

Bengbu - A look back

A message of good fortune, written in water on a sidewalk in the morning in Bengbu.

The center of town in Bengbu.

The history of Packages of Hope and Bengbu SWI goes back to 2005, when an adoptive family was looking to find information on a finding location for their daughter. A kind volunteer made an initial phone call on our behalf to the orphanage to see what we could do to help out there. What followed next was nothing short of miraculuous, and entirely due to the people involved in this effort. The orphanage director and staff who were so very open and wiling to welcome us into the orphanage and provide transparency and photo access. The volunteers who skillfully coordinated our donations on behalf of Packages of Hope, and last but not least the donors who so generously gave so that that the chidlren of Bengbu SWI could have a better life.

It continues to be a brilliant combinaton of factors that makes for a deep and trusted connection betwen adoptive families and the orphange. Each year we've managed to provide something to the orphaange that is needed for the children there, and we've been happy to see each time that we've been there that owning to the vision of the staff and the dedication of the Chinese government that the quality of care for the children continues to increase, and is becoming premiere in China.

The orphanage SWI director Mr. Song is quick to maintain that our participation is key to the process illustrating to the Chinese government that foreign adoption not only provides loving homes for these children, but also represents the beginning of ties to the orphange that last through time and across borders of country and culture. Although some would like to argue that adoption abroad is a loss of face for China. However, this pales in comparison to our ability to transcend that issue, and remain connected in support of those wanting to help the children. It is clear that children thrive in a loving home and it is clear that people with great hearts can make great things happen.

Me and director Ms. Wan at the Bengbu trainstation, which is undergoing a massive facelift.

Construction around the Bengbu train station.

Traveling in China

Traveling in China is much different than it used to be from my first trip to China 14 years ago. It amazes me. I admit that I have learned a lot about the Chinese culture and language since that first time, which has made me more aware of travel in China. But certainly advances in China with the economy has made an incredible difference in the experience.

On my way between destinations, I was able to experience the beauty of Chinese culture. Some of it was shocking to me, but at all times I was smiling, happy to be immersed in a country I have come to love.

The ultramodern huge airport in Pudong Shanghai

Advertisement showing all sorts of different kids!

A friendly taxi driver with some interesting nails



I've met stranger cab drivers in Orlando.Even with only a little Chinese language ability, the train is an easy way to get around. Folks say to be careful for pickpockets, but I've never had any problems.

Ultramodern high speed train.

Standard sight in China.... construction and skyscrapers going in everywhere...

Typical scooter driving in Shanghai. No helmet, and toddler just gripped tightly. I don't think that would ever fly in the USA.

Here's a link to some travel in China.

Here's a link which shows some scenes of life in China.

Leaving Qianjiang - more work needs to be done!

With a heavy heart we bid our host goodbye and headed to the bus station to take a bus back to ChongQing. At the bus station we were given gifts of food for the journey back. Handshakes and smiles were exchanged, and they looke forward to the time again when we would meet in Qianjiang. The orphanage founder thanked again the families for their donations and hoped that we could continue our work in the future together, for the sake of the children. There was also mention that while there were many children in the orphanage with cleft palates.

The government allots money for the orphans one by one to get this corrected in ChongQing, but we need to help the orphanage director for the travel expenses and incidentals for the trip. They said that they would try to let us know when one of the children was being prepared for this operaton and then I told them I would do what I could try to insure donation funding to assist these children.

Kay and I were exhausted after our journey and looking forward to the trip home. Once again we were greeted with the passion of the Chinese people on the bus. An animated discussion ensued between passenger and driver when one of the bags of the passenger was, in the passenger's opinion, mishandled by the the bus driver. The discussion became more and more heated until eventually some the the passengers intervened and tried to diffuse the situation. Finally one of the other passengers said something and everyone had a good chuckle. This seemed to diffuse the situation and the two arguing men backed down. Kay later told me that the joking passenger had said something along the lines of "hey we have a foreigner on board and you'll make a bad impression, so you two knock it off"...

I wonder if something like that would happen here in the USA???

The rest of the 4 hour bus trip went without incident. (me at a potty stop along the highway. Our bus in the background, and the cloud covered mountains of this beautiful country)

On the bus we had a lot more room than in the taxi ride TO Qianjiang and there was only gentle swaying of the bus as we ambled back through the countryside on the modern superhighway. The rain was steady and we occasionally opened the window to gain a picture vista of the mist covered mountains of this area, their tops covered as if by the shrouds of Olympus, capturing my heart with their mystery, majesty, and beauty.Our time had been brief in QianJiang but was productive. This was due in no small part to our preparation and planning and the coordination of our volunteer in China without whose help none of this would be possible.

We still have more to do. The Qianjiang orphanage staff are doing a fantastic job in caring for these children, and it is clear that they have their hearts devoted to the happiness and well-being, and the bright future of these children. However, the children still need our help. With the help of the donors, our Packages of Hope volunteers, and the gracious, open, and trusting staff at the orphanage, we CAN do more for these children. These ARE our extended family, and although the orphanage staff are doing a great job, they could use our help in providing clothing, medical assistance, toys, mattresses, and help with physical and education. We are making a difference! Let's continue to do more!!

I express my deep gratitude for the orphanage staff and government officials who have so graciously opened their doors to us to gain a rare view into the orphanage. Their objective is the same as mine - a sole purpose to help the orphan children in Qianjiang have a better life. We thank them, as well as the donors for their continued support for the children.

Qianjiang - return to the orphanage

We returned to the orphange where we saw the donation made from Packages of hope for Milk powder. We estimate that this donation will feed the current children for approximately 4 months. They were extremely appreciative. It was there that I met the new director a young woman named Yang Ai Huan.
(me and Yang Ai Huan, the orphanage's new director)

Sitting in the orphanage director's office, we had a look at several of the letters that the families had sent for me to present to the orphanage director. It was touching to go over these photos and to discuss the familiy's questions. The staff in the room recognized the children readliy and were all smiles to see how happy the children were now.

Of particular interest was a little boy named Jonathan. His story was particularly touching because of Jin YongMing's effort to help the child. The orphanage director had wondered why Jin Yongming had not keept in usual touch with yearly cards of well wishes. We informed the founder of Yongmings untimely passing. and he was affected by great sadness with the news.

We had all worked together so hard as a charity, including the great efforts of Cherrie Turner, as well as the orphanage staff to get help for this child.

It was at this time that we also made a donation for children's undergarments and I was able to see the unfortunately unused water purification system installed by Leane Welsh and A Child's Right. The orphanage director told us that they boil the water for sterilization for the children these days. I have since been informed that A Child's Right is on their way to fix this purification system at the orphanage.

(the current therapy room for the children with Special needs)

(the current play toys for the children. they were inside due to the rain)

(a view of the orphanage staff - from left to right, A nanny at the orphanage He Zhao Qing, former orphanage director Mrs. Cai, a government SWI official, me, the orphanage founder Mr. Yu, former orphanage director Mrs. Lu, and current orphanage director Mrs. Yang)

The orphanage director had a message for the families of Qianjiang: Mrs. Lu spoke first, and she said "Thank you for adopting the babies. I wish angel(babies) and the families much happiness."

It was difficult for me to translate this passage, because the literal word she used was "angels" to refer to the babies, but we are left to interpret the intention of her words in this colloquial expression. It was explained to me that the word was meant as endearing, such as the phrase "precious little angels".

Director Cai said: "I wish the babies from Qianjiang will grow up healthy with the adoptive families with the parents care. It is my wish that all the babies when they grow up, can return and visit Qianjiang." It is my interpretation that this is a formal and heartfelt invitation for the families and children to return back to this place for a visit.

It is my humble opinion that this invitation can be taken by the families as a token of peace and tranquility to the families and their considerations for the hometown and clouded sacred beginnings.

Qianjiang - new orphanage location

(a museum in the center of town)

We sped off from the hotel, and I was happy to take in the sights and sound of town. I had a few requests from families to take some photos of finding spot locations. As an adoptive parent of 2 children born in China, I must say my pulse quickened at the prospect of this task. Buildings whizzed by and my host was busy chatting with Kay in the back seat as I contemplated the nexus of time and space of such an incredibly momentous event. I can only imagine pain and fear, sadness and despair. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, trying to identify each smell that came to me. Damp moist air, a bit of must from inside the car mixed with air freshener. I rolled the window down, and smelled the green of leaves and trees. The mechanical sound of cars passing by, the faint and acrid smell of car exhaust, and the smell of wet asphalt after the morning rain.

The car came to a halt, and the chatting stopped. Kay words threw me into my senses as she said,

"we are here".

I didn't want to leave the car, as I saw the gate and address mentioned in the email. "She was found at the gate....." the email read.

Tears welled in my eyes, and a confused passerby carrying a blue umbrella watched me approach this sacred place.

I stood for a moment wanting to scream. Wanting to pierce the darkness and haze of unknown pain. I could hear my own scream in my ears, my throat becoming raw with massive exhale and yell.

But there was only silence, and a small prayer.

I stayed there a moment, and looked all around, and took as many pictures as I could for the family. Their daughter was with their forever family now, and I knew that this was ultimately the Reason.

It was time to leave this place. Without a moment of reflection, I startled my hosts. "Let's go. There is nothing here now."

We continued on in our journey, and our next stop was the new orphanage.

(Three beautiful women of China - from left to right - former Qianjiang director Cai Sheng Hua, former director Lu Jun Lan, and Packages of Hope volunteer Mrs. Zhang Yuan - Kay)

In October 2005, I visited the orphanage in Bengbu SWI in Anhui province, and saw it under construction. (see my blog post from 2005 here and 2007 here ).

This site was very similar, and visiting this place and seeing what was to come in the next few years filled me with a sense of joy as to what was to come for the orphan children and the people of Qianjiang.

To see the video of the new Qiangjiang orphanage, please click here.

The the buildings were covered with scaffolding. The site was a hodge podge of construction workers, raw building materials, and power lines going everywhere.

The building who's frame was erected before us was for the foster care family children. I was shown some blueprints where they showed me the different buildings of the SWI, which would include buildings for the children as well as the elderly population for the SWI.

The surrounding area looked so beautiful. The hilly terrain, and the deep orange clay soil reminded me a lot of my new home in North carolina and the nearby smoky mountains.

It was there that I was introduced to the orphanage founder, Mr. Yu. He presented me with a small gift, and his bright eyes and smille conveyed a desire to be connected to us and the families of Qianjiang. It was my impression that the man was a visionary with a real heart for the children.

Mr. Yu had started the orphanage with his own funding and had operated the facility privately for many years. However, now it has been taken over by the government and become a full SWI. However, it is clear that Mr. Yu still has a heart for the children, and still is involved with the orphanage's future.

(from Left to Right - Kay, me, and orphanage founder Mr. Yu)

(What the main building will look like following construction. The highlights of the translation reads "Qianjiang social welfare institute Zheng Yan street beside of the office of community government. 1849.76 square meters land area. building height is 15.75m, 4 floors, height of first floor 4.5 m, 3.6 meter height for 2nd floor and 3rd floor.")