Beijing – 北京

I’ve been here half a year and I’ve finally gone to Beijing. Monday was Tomb Sweeping Day which meant a three day weekend. We re-arranged Friday classes and were able to head out Thursday afternoon. We caught the noon fast train to Beijing and the adventure began. Usually I am on the ball and have a complete and printed itinerary for my trips. As time was tight I left planning for the train trip.  

Katie and Thomas are experts on Beijing and knew all the ropes to tourist spots. I made my plans and looked forward to seeing the sites. We arrived Thursday afternoon and after a rather interesting transportation entanglement we made it to our hostel. We headed out to try and find a western restaurant mentioned in my guide book but failed and ended up a fun little sandwich cafe, not a bad replacement.

Friday morning I awoke early to start a full day of site seeing. Adam and Kelly came with and we headed to the Temple of Heaven at the south end of Beijing. We bought our tickets and split up to explore the complex. About 30min into the morning my camera battery failed and my back up battery was dead, great planning Kayte! The Temple of Heaven complex followed the traditional temple layout and design. The signs were well translated and enjoyed the area immensely.

Temple of Heaven

 The complex housed the Music Administration Buildings that provided the emperor with musicians and singers throughout the Ming and Qing Dynasty. They had a wonderful musical museum documenting musical history from the very beginning of Chinese History. There were numerous instruments on display and I was fortunate enough to attend the daily concert performed. I was able to hear examples of many of the traditional Chinese instruments.

Temple of Good Harvest

 After the Temple of Heaven we went to Tienanmen Square. It was huge. You had to pass through security in order to enter of course. Although there must have been hundreds of people on the square it seemed empty by the sheer size of it. Mao’s Mausoleum in the center is the main attraction but I did not feel the need to visit his tomb. After a brief walk about I headed to the Forbidden Palace.

The Forbidden Palace was breathtaking. The restoration was remarkable. I knew there was no way to see it all in one trip but did my best to cover as much ground as possible. With no Camera I have no pictures to post.

Saturday we all awoke early and headed for the bus depot to catch the 936 up to Mutianyu. As Katie and Thomas have been to the great wall a twice before they thought this the best vantage point for first timers. Simatai was the next option but as it is more strenuous and further away we settled on a relaxing trip for us first timers.

The Great Wall amidst the Great Haze

Even with pavement the hike seems wild!

 We took the cable car up to the top of the mountain and began to explore. The wall is completely restored in this section but was none the less breath taking.

Late winter does not provide the most gorgeous backdrop.

Katie and Me, we decided to try and hike to the end of the restored section.

These steep steps are nothing compared to Simatai. Boy was I glad we settled for Mutianyu!

 Aggressive peddlers and sellers are a given where ever a tourist maybe found in China. I’ve become quite good at avoiding them although I can’t say the same for some in our group. I keep telling him just IGNORE them. Any acknowledgment on your part and you’ve got a buddy for the next block or two.

The road up to the Wall was lined with rather aggressive sellers.

 After the wall we headed to the Subway at the foot of the mountain! Nothing satisfies one’s hunger like a good ol’  Club Sandwich.

Ahh nothing completes a good hike like SUBWAY!! Oh the pleasures of Beijing.

 We got back into Beijing in time for a quick run to the Clothing Markets and a delcious trip to the Kiosk the little sandwich shopped we had failed to find Thursday evening.

Sunday morning I set out on my own to tour Beihai Park. The views were spactacular and the sites peacful. It was a wonderful way to spend Easter morning.

Beihai Park - White Dagoba

Exploring the Yongan Si Temple Complex beneath the White Dagoba.

The White Dagoba Complex is a Tibetan-style stupa.

The park was full of torists and Beijing residents enjoying the beautiful morning weather.

 Water Caligraphy is a favorite past time in Chinese Parks. It is always fascinating to watch the old men at work. There is always a crowd that gathers, both locals and travelers. I can’t wait to actully be able to read the characters someday.

The White Dagoba can be seen well outside the park.

One of the many private gardens within the Park.

Prince Gong's Resident

 After the park we all met up and toured Prince Gong’s Resident. This was the setting of one of China’s most famous literary works, Dream of the Red Chamber.  Katie and I wondered the grounds together and commented on how the Great Restoration of China’s sites were all done by a single team with the same colors and designs for everything.

Yandai Xiejie - A busy market street within the famous Hutongs

 The group headed back to the hostel and I went to explore the Hutongs (old courtyard style neighborhoods) and see the ancient Drum and Bell Towers. Along the way I stumbled across this wonderful market street that was packed with tourists.

The Bell Tower

The Steps up the Bell and Drum Towers were Deathly!

I was scared and just plum tired from the previous hike along the Great Wall I wanted to turn around and head home. The only thing that prevented me from chickening out was the Y30 ticket I’d already purchased.

The bell

 The Bell has a long history but the tragic part is all that I will recount. Legend has it that when the bell was being made, casting after casting failed. On threat of death if the deadline was not met the foreman’s daughter threw herself into the molten metal before the final casting. The final casting held and the project was finished on time.

The Drum Tower

 It was pure luck that enabled me to see the daily drum show. I’d debated going to the bell tower last and am glad I didn’t.

The Drum Show

 As I waited for a bus back to the hostel I saw this store and just had to take a picture.

Christmas Year 'Round

 The bus ride back to the hostel was an experience of a life time. I had waited what seemed like ages for my bus, 45min, when one finally came I was disheartened by the crowd on the bus. I wasn’t about to wait around for another bus so pushed my way on. I soon realized there truly was no space for the people to move but I was not getting off. The beauty of not speaking a lick of Chinese is you truly can ignore when people scream at you. There is not a hint of recognition when directions are made and eventually they stop trying. So I held on for dear life and got my back smacked with the door ever time we came to a stop. The driver soon realized no one from the front was getting off and stopped opening the door until someone said they had to disembark. But hey all in all I made it back to the hostel relatively unscathed just a few minor bruises on my back.

St Joseph's Cathedral

 Monday morning I was up and out by 7am I wanted a full day before our return train at 4pm. I started with a stroll to St. Joseph’s Cathedral which was only a few blocks from our hostel. I was able to catch the end of a morning mass.

At 7:30 I headed to the Summer Palace to spend a morning Exploring. Like the Forbidden City there is no humanly way possible to see the entire Summer Palace in a single trip so I noted the highlights and plotted my course. Victoria truly is right, “If you’ve seen one temple in China, you’ve just about seen them all.” There really is very little difference between them, especially after the wave of restores used all the same designs.

Empress Cixi's Opera House

 The stairs were a killer but the view was spectacular.

The Tower of Fragrance of the Buddha

The Temple at the top of Longevity Hill

The Bronze Pavilion

The Bronze Pavilion

Empress Cixi's Marble Boat

 Empress Cixi ruled during the final years of the Qing Dynasty. She was not remembered as making the best decisions for the empire, this project is an example of just that. She used funds allocated for the modernization of the Chinese Navy to build a marble boat for her personal use. The boat does not work but is rather a gazebo of sorts.

Suzhou Street - Traditional Market

 

 Katie and Thomas had booked our hostel and we were thrilled with the accomodation. As there were 5 of us we booked a 6 bed dorm and got the room all to ourselves. It was clean and comfortable. The location was excellent as well. It was on the street just east of the Forbidden City and a few blocks from a subway.

Our hostel - one of the best I've stayed in.

 We caught the 4pm train home and I settled in for a quiet relaxing 4 hours. Soon enough I was surrounded by two Chinese children intent on helping me with my Mandarin studies. So not the most relaxing train trip I’ve had in China but by no means the worst.

My Chinese Tutor's

The end of the trip! I was thrilled to finally get off the train.

Beijing was wonderful. I am thrilled to go back and continue to explore all the wonderful sites!