PRO SKILLS BASKETBALL CHINA TOUR 2018 RECAP (PART 3) – BEIJING

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Pro Skills Basketball China Basketball Tour 2018

In part 2 of our Pro Skills Basketball China Tour recap, we reviewed everything the group did in Chengdu, including Hot Pot, pandas, playing pick up at Sichuan University and an exhibition game against the Chinese Basketball Association U21 Sichuan Blue Whale team.

Before that, in part 1, we wrote about our time in Shanghai where we saw a ton of sights, including the world-famous Bund and played one of the most famous streetball teams in China and at one of the most famous playgrounds in Shanghai, Rucker Park.

For this week, however, part 3 recounts the Beijing leg of our trip!

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PRO SKILLS BASKETBALL CHINA TOUR 2018 RECAP (PART 2) – CHENGDU

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Pro Skills Basketball China Tour 2018

Last week we covered the Shanghai portion in part 1 of our Pro Skills Basketball China Tour recap, so this week it’s on to Chengdu for part 2!

Chengdu is not the biggest or the most famous city in China, but over the course of our four-day visit, the PSB China Tour group savored its signature slow pace.

We saw Pandas, played Chinese Basketball Association U21 Blue Whale team, and burnt our mouths (willingly) with spicy Sichuan cuisine.

Overall, we saw a markedly different – and more authentic – version of China in comparison to sprawling Shanghai or bustling Beijing.

When our China tour group met for orientation, most of the group had not heard of Chengdu (成都). But by the end of the trip almost everyone said the time spent in the heart of Sichuan province (四川省) was the most memorable part of the entire experience.

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PRO SKILLS BASKETBALL CHINA TOUR 2018 RECAP (PART 1) – SHANGHAI

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PSB Shanghai China Basketball Tour 2018

The 2018 Pro Skills Basketball China Tour is officially in the books!

For three weeks we will publish recaps with stories and pictures from all three stops: Shanghai (part 1), Chengdu (part 2), and Beijing (part 3). Then we’ll cap it all off with a documentary of the entire trip to China!

This week, part 1, details all the dumplings, dunks, and deals Shanghai had to offer … Enjoy!

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KARL BARKLEY’S CHINA BASKETBALL ADVENTURES: June 2018

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hike at Longquan mountain outside of ChengduThe month of June started with a hike at Longquan mountain, just outside of Chengdu.

The mountain, which ended up being more of a glorified hill, was peaceful and provided excellent vantages of the Sichuan countryside.

It was a nice first hike to get my feet wet, but there are a number of more rigorous treks further out in the province that I have planned for future months.

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KARL BARKLEY’S PSB CHINA BASKETBALL ADVENTURES: May 2018

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Karl Barkley's Pro Skills Basketball China AdventuresThis month I welcomed a new roommate to Chengdu (Nathan) and said goodbye to two others (Zeb and Tyler). Before the latter could return home to Queen and country, Nathan and I made sure to give them a proper English send off.

First, we joined in on Chengdu’s British Day celebrations. The festivities coincided with the Royal Wedding and included great food, a few games of Tug-of-War, and a friendly water balloon fight.

Later that week we all went to the China v. England U19 soccer game. Although England ended up losing the game on a late breakaway goal, the matchup felt like a poetic ending to Tyler and Zeb’s time in China.

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