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The five spot: 5 swell souvenirs for Tacoma kids in China

The Five Spot salute is delivered handsomely by Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and his wife Peng Liyuan after they arrived at Boeing Field in Everett in September 2015. Xi’s visit to the Pacific Northwest precipitated a Chinese government-hosted visit to Asia by Tacoma students from Lincoln High School this month.
The Five Spot salute is delivered handsomely by Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and his wife Peng Liyuan after they arrived at Boeing Field in Everett in September 2015. Xi’s visit to the Pacific Northwest precipitated a Chinese government-hosted visit to Asia by Tacoma students from Lincoln High School this month. AP

Five keepsakes we’d like to see Lincoln High School students bring home from China.

 

1 A bust of Abe Lincoln's head carved out of authentic Shanghai jade.

 

2 An autograph from President Xi Jinping — at the bottom of an agreement to stop his military's aggressive expansion in the South China Sea.

 

3 Video selfie of the entire Lincoln entourage singing "Louie, Louie" while standing on the Great Wall of China.

 

4 A baby panda smuggled out of the country in a well-ventilated piece of carry-on luggage.

 

5 An understanding that the superficial, Chinese-government-funded trip you just enjoyed masks a closed, repressive society with an abysmal human rights record.

This story was originally published October 16, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "The five spot: 5 swell souvenirs for Tacoma kids in China."

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