Beijing - Cascadian Abroad

Day 12: Beijing Bonus Day

August 8, 2015 by Robert Haddan

After a long day on the Great Wall, we returned to Beijing with a few hours to spare before the train to Xi’an. Our original plans were disrupted by the busy Saturday afternoon subway delays and we instead found ourselves at Wangfujing Snack Street, famous for its skewers of live insects.

A portion of the Ming City Wall in Beijing. Part of the city's defenses, the wall was 15 miles long, however all but 1.2 miles were destroyed to build new highways and subway lines. Construction also diverted us after a few steps and we found ourselves in a decidedly non-tourist maze of local alleyways, where we followed a group of locals past shops and restaurants back to the main road. — A portion of the Ming City Wall in Beijing. Part of the city’s defenses, the wall was 15 miles long, however all but 1.2 miles were destroyed to build new highways and subway lines. Construction also diverted us after a few steps and we found ourselves in a decidedly non-tourist maze of local alleyways, where we followed a group of locals past shops and restaurants back to the main road.

Looking in the window of our overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an. It was surprisingly comfortable and we were gently awakened around 7 a.m. by the piped-in traditional Chinese music. A rider accompanying his elderly mother woke us about an hour before that with three hours of nonstop conversation in the aisle. — Looking in the window of our overnight train from Beijing to Xi’an. It was surprisingly comfortable and we were gently awakened around 7 a.m. by the piped-in traditional Chinese music. A rider accompanying his elderly mother woke us about an hour before that with three hours of nonstop conversation in the aisle.

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Day 10: Last Day in Beijing

August 6, 2015 by Robert Haddan

We spent four days in Beijing, gaining a better insight on China’s capital. The changes taking place in China are perfectly illustrated on this shopping street near our hotel as Western brands blend with traditional shops and restaurants.

A tree-lined street leading to the Confucius Temple. We also found our second suprise craft brewpub in an adjacent hutong.

The gate to Guozijian Street and Confucius Temple.

One of the many character-filled hutongs (alleyways) of Beijing.

A local man at Gubeikou Village, our guesthouse near the Great Wall, enjoying watching his neighbors playing badminton.

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Day 9: Chairman Mao and the Temple of Heaven

August 5, 2015 by Robert Haddan

Waiting in line to see Mao Zedong’s memorial is an event in its own right. The line zig-zagged through Tiananmen Square, around to the front of the giant mausoleum and back around to the other side again. An hour-long wait gets you less than five minutes inside where thousands of Chinese lay flowers at the feet of a statue of the Chairman before scuttling past his body laying in a preserved state of rest.

Another view of the line at Mao's mausoleum. Shortly after this picture was taken--and after 30 minutes in line--I was informed I couldn't bring my backpack or camera inside. Fortunately they let me check my bag at a nearby luggage check and re-enter the line. — Another view of the line at Mao’s mausoleum. Shortly after this picture was taken–and after 30 minutes in line–I was informed I couldn’t bring my backpack or camera inside. Fortunately they let me check my bag at a nearby luggage check and re-enter the line.

We walked around Beijing's Temple of Heaven park for about three hours. The tower in the back was used to pray for good harvest and is actually built using pillars made from Oregon fir trees. — We walked around Beijing’s Temple of Heaven park for about three hours. The tower in the back was used to pray for good harvest and is actually built using pillars made from Oregon fir trees.

The park at Temple of Heaven is popular with locals looking to practice dance, play cards or toss a frisbee. We were lucky to spot this woman among the knotted cypruss trees.

A girl filled the park with giant bubbles.

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Day 8: Exploring Dongcheng North

August 4, 2015 by Robert Haddan

We took Beijing’s subway for the first time to Yonghegong Lama Temple where they provide free incense service for visitors. Three incense are burned at each temple for different types of prayers. The Tibetan Buddhism monastary is one of the few to survive the Cultural Revolution.