Travel Notes: Beijing in March

A window seat on an international flight isn't the best idea. By the time you have to use the restroom, the two other passengers between you and the aisle are asleep. Funny that the flight crew keeps passing out drinks.
There's nothing to see out the window anyway. Here's a view of the flight tracker though.

This will be posted when I land, I think. More as the trip progresses.

Google (and Blogspot) access is limited here. Sorry.

Beijing

Here are a couple of the more unique big modern buildings in Beijing.

Money is easy - all paper so far, some coins but not many. Food seems to be pretty cheap. A meal at the local (Chinese) fast food place runs about 25 - 35 RMB. That's about 5 bucks (~6RMB/$1USD) for a decent meal. Going in groups also helps if you go to the more formal places. 6 or 7 of us cost 250RMB, so again about 30RMB apiece. The food itself is pretty good too, if a bit rustic. So far nothing has been crazy, but some of the veggie dishes have been a bit spicy. Maybe my Chinese friends didn't order the really crazy stuff because I was there. Not sure.

Boiled Bamboo, spicy vegetables, porridge, fried tofu, braised beef, tea. Napkins - not cigarettes!

I spent a week in Beijing, but really only got to be a tourist for one day. Here is a report on that day - it was along one at that.

Tienanmen Square

The largest square in the world. Vast and empty, but somehow draws crowds anyway. It is bordered to the north by the Forbidden City and Mao's mausoleum (maosoleum?) , south by The Peoples' Hero Museum, to the west by the Museum of China, and to the east by the Peoples' Hall.

This is a shot facing north from about 1/3 of the way south on the square. I hope it conveys the scale of the place. Vast and empty.

Forbidden City

From Tienanmen Square, I headed north through the Mao tomb gate into the Forbidden City. I decided to not hire one of the many many tour guides, but I did rent the audio guide. It's automatic based on where you are, and in any language you may want. 40RMB.

The Forbidden City is now a museum (In fact "The Palace Museum" is the name PRC has given it.) One can not actually enter any of the buildings, unless they are the gift shops or tea rooms. But on a day less crowded, you can linger and look into the rooms and imagine what the Emperor may have been up to.

View of Mao's tomb looking south

The Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Preserving Harmony


View to the Northwest

The Emperor was a virtual prisoner in the city. Although he wanted for nothing, he lacked his personal freedom. What was running through his imperial mind as he looked over the walls?

A dragon sculpture

Dragons playing in the clouds

My favorite part of the Forbidden City has to be the gardens. Here the Emperor was able to just walk around alone or with his prospective consorts and just think.

Garden sculptures

Garden Pagoda

At the edge of the city and the gardens

Maybe in the interest of full employment I would take that guide next time.

Nanlougu Xaing

Shopping - tourists - crowds. That's Nanluogu Xiang. This is essentially a place to eat, shop for trinkets, and well - be in a crowd of people. It quite reminded me of the boardwalk in Wildwood NJ or the Strogge in Copenhagen. I liked popping in and out of the little shops that sell pretty much anything.

Getting to Nanluogu Xiang is an adventure itself. I was on foot, but had some directions from locals. I avoided the rickshaws from the Forbidden City. I'm glad I did. I walked north, stopping for some fried rice and tea for lunch. Then kept going to the hutongs (old neighborhoods). Nanluogu Xiang is really just a street in the hutongs, but with all the shops and restaurants on it there is a real vibe. A must see if you are in Beijing!

A stream through the hutongs

A gate into the neighborhoods

Nanluogu Xiang - See it!

Yes, people all around

A smarter smart car, or just small? I'm not sure, but it's yellow!


Chinese lanterns. Where did they get THAT idea?

Street Sign

I had a great time here. I found some treasures for myself and gifts I hope others will enjoy. But just around the corner I found something I could not pass up...

The Ocarina of Time - and it's all mine!!!

I found a great shopping district in Beijing. I'm happy for that. Otherwise the city is a smoggy mess of big buildings and superhighways. Get off the beaten trail and adventure will follow.

HouHai

HouHai Lakes or the Black Lakes is a region west of Nanluogu Xiang and near the Drum and Bell Towers. I won't bore either of is with a history lesson, but these towers were used to keep time across the city.

The Bell Tower


The Drum Tower

I continued my walk from Nanluogu Xiang to HouHai. Having to stop, I saw this Engrish gem and couldn't resist the photo op

You are the BEST!

I continued on, once I stopped laughing, to HouHai lake. There were fishermen and swimmers, although there were signs against both activities. I thought this was a pretty mundane spot (why would my local friends suggest I come here...)

Houhai lake

As I continued down the street, things got more lively.


Restaurants along Houhai

What I found were more shops, bars, and street food joints crammed into one spot than I've ever seen. Souvenirs were all around. More of the same from Nanluogu Xiang. I resisted most of the touristy stuff, but of course you have to buy something!