Beijing

My first impression of Beijing was COLD.  After balmy sunny days in Hong Kong and Shanghai, we were met with a blast of cold air when the train stopped in Beijing.  It was sunny the day we arrived, but quite chilly and windy.  We visited Tianamen Square in the afternoon, where we definitely felt the government's presence. Quite unlike Shanghai, we actually felt their presence all throughout the city. 

Gate of Heavenly Peace at Tianamen Square

 Beijing had a much grittier feel than Shanghai, less shiny and more "authentically Chinese".  We wandered around some hutong neighborhoods after Tianamen Square and enjoyed the older feel of the place. 

Courtyard we wandered into on a hutong street

 That evening we did what every good tourist does: we went to the movies :)  Jeanie had told us about a movie that was currently showing called Beijing to Seattle and since Holly used to live in the Seattle area we wanted to see it.  Plus, we figured the theater would be a lot warmer than exploring outside.  The movie was a cheesy romantic comedy that gave an interesting look into the culture and how it related to the States- a great blend for us. 

One thing we did that afternoon was book a tour for the next day out to the Great Wall.  We wanted to go to a section of the wall that was further away than the main two over-touristed places. Most Great Wall tours go to those two and also include stops at Jem Factories or Museums where they try to coerce you into spending more money. We wanted more wall time and no shopping.  The first places we tried didn't have trips out to the section we wanted to visit, but we finally found one that did and promised us "No shopping".  We paid a small deposit and arranged for them to pick us up at our hotel the next morning.

That next day, Friday, the high was only about 50F, gray and overcast.  We put on every layer we had brought and waited in the lobby.  For an hour.  Eventually we called the tour company to find out where they were, only to find that the tour guide had been sitting across from us in the lobby, looking like a guest, for the last hour. Why didn't she approach us?  She assumed that my Korean-born yet very American friend Holly was my Chinese tour guide.  And she didn't bother to ask questions.  On the way to the car she explained that they would take us to a different (closer) section than the one we signed up for, was that okay? Ummmm, NO!  And there would be two museum stops.  We declined.  It waas frustrating, but at the same time we are very thankful that all this came out before we even left so we could get our depoist back and take a different tour on Saturday, our last day. 

So there we were, not even 9am, dressed and ready for a freezing cold day.  What to do?  Go see Chairman Mao's embalmed body of course!  A strange activity, yes, but a free one, and quite a cultural experience.  There was a long line of middle aged and elderly Chinese tourists wating in the spitting rain. When we tried to join the line guards were pushing us out of the way. One of them tried to talk to Holly (everywhere we went people assumed she spoke Chinese, which I found pretty amusing). Once he realized we didn't understand a word he was saying, he took her by the hand, and led her across Tianamen Square towards a bag drop area. Ahhhh, it was the backpack.  Still holding her hand, he marched right up to the front of the line, took her, bag, motioned for us to remove our wallets and passports, and then proceeded to drop off our bag for us.  He then took her hand and led us back to the Mausoleum entrance where he asked us for 10 yuan (around $1.50). Hahaha. Always a catch. 

Entrance to Mao's Mausoleum- pic taken the afternoon before we visited. Visitors allowed in the morning only.

After visiting Mao, we went to Forbidden City. It was cold, but at least by then the rain had stopped and there were moements of sunshine.

First view walking into Forbidden City

View from a park north of Forbidden City- give you an idea of how HUGE it is.



View of Beijing from the park.

  Later that afternoon we did our souvenir shopping (putting our awesome bargaining skills to use, except for when one vendor grabbed onto me and WOULD NOT let go) and booked a new Great Wall tour- to the area we wanted, no museums, no shopping, no lies.  One day left in China, and one thing left to see!