The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is an international professional organisation, dedicated to the science and practice of conserving the Earth’s biological diversity. The Society’s membership comprises a wide range of people interested in the conservation and study of biological diversity: resource managers, educators, government and private conservation workers, and students. The Society is a global community with more than 12,000 members worldwide, and representatives from over 140 countries.

Since the year 2000, our meeting attendance has increased steadily from 1,000 participants to over 1,600. SCB annual meetings are a forum for addressing conservation challenges. They are the global venue for presenting and discussing new research and developments in conservation science and practice. Most importantly, they connect our global community of conservation professionals, and serve as the major networking outlet for anyone interested in conservation. The first Society for Conservation Biology meeting was held in 1988, in Bozeman, Montana, USA. Since then, SCB annual meetings have been held in Africa, Australia, Europe, and North and South America, and the 23rd annual meeting was held in China.

The conference was held from July 11 to 16, 2009, where conservation professionals from all over the world gathered. It was really a wonderful experience. Our delegates were kept in a five star resort, which was a dream come true for me. I have been to many places of the world (including the United States of America and the United Kingdom), but never did I find such a luxurious arrangement before.

Whatever it may be, my visit to China has been one of my most memorable trips during the past few years. Tiananmen Square on a Friday night, reminded me of New York’s Times Square on the New Year’s eve, without the confetti, streamers and noisemakers. A coloured fountain, tens of thousands of people, a roller-blading contest for children. Everyone moved at a relaxed and steady pace, and appeared happy. Boys and girls, men and women, parents and children, couples and singles mingled here. I kept walking, trying to stay together with our group of seven, but it was hard for me to do so. We are the only foreigners in a crowd of tens of thousands of Chinese, but did not feel observed or uncomfortable in any way.

My desire to see the Great Wall of China was fulfilled as the local organising committee had agreed to take us to the site in an air-conditioned bus, with a guide who could explain to us everything in English. A Chinese saying goes as – he who has never been to the Great Wall, is not a true man. If we lay the bricks and the rocks used in the Great Wall to form a one metre (1.1 yard) wide and five metres (16.4 feet) high wall, it would perhaps circle the earth at the equator with great ease. It is such a spectacular and formidable architectural feat, that anyone who comes to China should not miss it under any circumstances. The Great Wall, spanning 17 Chinese provinces, is one of humankind’s most remarkable efforts.

The Great Wall passes through the north of Beijing Municipality, which takes an hour or two by car from Beijing city. The Great Wall is truly amazing. It is much bigger than I had ever imagined. It snakes far into the distance and goes up and down the mountains at an incredibly steep angle. Much to my surprise, the path along the top of the wall is not a smooth surface, but climbs in huge steps where the wall climbs the mountainside. The steps seem to have been made for giants, and it is really a tough job climbing them. I stopped at the top of the section we were on, to admire the breathtaking view. Unfortunately, as I was turning back to come down, my breath was taken away for a completely different reason. What had seemed steep to climb, looked almost vertical now. I desperately wanted to come down backwards, clinging to the rail, but my fear of the descent was slightly less than my fear of looking a complete idiot. I compromised and sat down every few steps to admire the view. If the ancient Chinese soldiers, who had manned the wall, climbed up and down these steps every day, then they must have been a truly formidable bunch. And how it was built, is a complete mystery to me. The great engineering marvels of the late 20th century somehow seem less marvellous after my visit to the Great Wall.

50 kilometres northwest from Beijing city lies the Ming Tombs – the general name given to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The mausoleums have been perfectly preserved, as has the necropolis of each of the many emperors. Because of its long history, palatial and integrated architecture, the site has a high cultural and historic value. The layout and the arrangement of all thirteen mausoleums are very similar, but they vary in size, as well as in the complexity of their structures. What fascinated me the most, was the story being told by our guide. According to her, the site of the Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs was carefully chosen according to Feng Shui (geomancy) principles. According to these principles, bad spirits and evil winds descending from the North must be deflected, therefore, an arc-shaped area at the foot of the Jundu mountains on the north of Beijing was selected. This 40 square kilometre area – enclosed by the mountains in a pristine, quiet valley full of dark earth, tranquil water and other necessities as per Feng Shui – would become the necropolis of the Ming Dynasty.

The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China, and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. Because the emperor believed, that his palace was in the centre of the earth, so the palace was symmetrically built along the north-south central axis of the capital city of Beijing. The whole imperial city extends from the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower in the north to Yong Ding Men, or the gate of Permanent Peace and Stability in the south. Apart from the building and the countless complex structures, the imperial city is also known for its harmonious layout, and is deemed to be the summit that the ancient Chinese architecture had ever reached.

During our last night in Beijing, we had an opportunity to do whatever we wanted. I was desperate to start shopping, and check out what China has to offer. ‘Retail therapy’ was very much needed during my homesickness. So, the coach dropped a large group of us at Silk Street market. According to Wikipedia, Silk Street market attracts approx 20,000 visitors daily (from 9 am to 9 pm) on weekdays, and between 50,000 and 60,000 on weekends. As I strolled through the vibrant hustle and bustle attempting to absorb the culture shock, I felt a tug at my sleeve.

‘Hey! Young man’, a sweet voice said to me in an Americanised tone, ‘I have jeans for you, I have Kimonos, bags, and I have shoes. You need shoes?’ She started barking right on my face. Another one, plain inches away, yelled at me to buy a shirt for myself.

Immediately, after overcoming the shock of what I had got myself into, I tried to push past the crowd, whilst trying to return my packed clothes, (which I had never even seen or agreed to buy), put my original sunglasses back onto my head, and continued posing for photographs. I had vowed to myself that I will not let this experience put me off from shopping on my return to Guwahati.

Dr Arup Kumar Hazarika