Official visit to Weifang, the site of Liddell's internment and location of his memorial by the Chinese people

Early start for a 6.50am flight to Weifang, the town in which Eric Liddell with many others had been interned by the Japanese between 1941 and 1945. We were warmly welcomed by officials of the Weifang government and taken to the site of the internment camp. Little is now left of the buildings of the former American Presbyterian mission which had been used as the interment camp. However the Weifang Government had taken great steps in preserving the little that was left and we were shown round the museum they had constructed in one of the remaining buildings.

We were also were taken to the granite memorial to Eric Liddell erected near the hospital building in which Eric died in 1945. In connection with this there was a film crew from Weifang TV which covered the whole visit, including interviews with John and Joy. Joy is our interpreter on the trip but also the translator of the Chinese version of Running the Race, who's help throughout has been invaluable. We were treated to very a hearty meal in a lovely hotel.

Afterwards we went to Xinhu Bookstore in Weifang (part of a big chain across China) We were encouraged that they had ordered copies of the book. We got back to the hotel in Beijing after midnight.