Michelle Obama Visits Pandas, Plays Ping Pong in China
Published at(BEIJING) — It’s spring break for America’s first daughters, Sasha and Malia Obama. So like countless moms across the nation, first lady Michelle Obama took them on vacation.
With grandma Michelle Robinson in tow, the first lady and first daughters jetted off to China for a week of sightseeing. After a surprise meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the four Obama women hit several of the country’s premier tourist attractions — the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an, the Forbidden City — but made time for some less conventional activities as well.
Here are a few of the highlights:
After her 20-hour flight to Beijing, the first lady engaged in a little ping-pong diplomacy. As the Chinese first lady, Madam Peng Liyuan, looked on, Mrs. Obama went paddle-to-paddle with a student from the Beijing Normal School.
Continuing the trip’s athletic bent, Mrs. Obama stretched her limbs in a tai chi class in Chengdu.
Tai Chi “is a truly beautiful form of physical activity & I loved giving it a try” —Mrs. Obama http://t.co/EApjKY7ULD pic.twitter.com/vxox9girR2
— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) March 25, 2014
Before winging her way back to the U.S. on Wednesday, the first lady visited the Chengdu Panda Base, home to more than 50 giant pandas. White House video reveals Mrs. Obama and her daughters cooing over five cuddly bears chomping on bamboo.
“Aw, they’re chowing down!” Mrs. Obama said.
“I couldn’t leave China without seeing the Chengdu Panda Base” —The First Lady: http://t.co/R6tGg7yk9W #FLOTUSinChina pic.twitter.com/7pDM3JXYV7
— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) March 26, 2014
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