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Beijing
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September 7, 2002 We left the USA at 1030am Sept. 7 and spent 12 hours in the air, arriving in China Sept. 8th at 5:30pm. Once off the plane, we flew through customs and collected our luggage. Once we reached the packed lobby, Geoff and I searched around for our tour guide. Geoff found our tour guide, Rebecca, and to our surprise she would be our personal tour guide for the duration of our Beijing stay. Rebecca and Mr. Wong (our driver), took us to our 4 star hotel, 40 minutes away from the airport. Our drive was 40 minutes of excitement, as we learned first hand that cars have the ride away, NOT people or bicycles.
Emperor's Resting Place September 9, 2002 We started our day with a huge buffet breakfast. Geoff and I decided not to try the rotten egg thing :-) Rebecca and Mr. Wong picked us up at 900 and we toured Tin amen Square, where we saw the body of Moa Tse Tung, Chairman Moa is what they called him. This was the first chairman of the communist party in 1949. We walked through T. Square and saw a memorial that was for the hero's in the war against the Japanese invaders in 1937
Second Gate (note the three entrances, center was for the Emperor, right was for the government officials/family, left gate for servants) I went through the center gate!
Caldrons (once platted in gold)
Male Guardian (note the hand is on a ball)
Jade projected them from evil. From there we went to lunch where they brought us so much food, from tomatoes with sugar, cucumbers, fried chicken something, two beef plates, spinach something, rice. I think Geoff and I made it through 1/4 of the meal.
Summer Palace
Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha
Long Corridor We ate dinner at the Beijing Duck where we had some excellent cooked duck; not like what I had in the US and gave to the dogs as a $20.00 meal.. It was funny though, as water is more expensive than beer. Beer was 3 RMB’s and water 5 RMB’s (~.70 cents). We asked for water in English and ended up having them bring a beer, hmmmm. SHway was the first word we asked Rebecca for as water is what we wanted most of the time. |
Forbidden City We ventured over to a Restaurant across the street from the hotel. We where fully equipped with a piece of paper with the words, Chicken, Noodles and Vegetables written in Chinese. We think we came out ok for not knowing what we where eating. I think the noodle had some type of snail in it but Geoff thought it was squid. Did notice they had Dog in a Pot on the menu, and some other interesting menu choices but we stayed away from those dishes.
Memorial for the War Hero's and in the back ground Moa Tse Tung's Yellow Body.
Concubine Sleeping Quarters of Forbidden Palace From there we went under the street through a tunnel and entered the Forbidden City. There where three gates of that where of importance in the city. Only the emperor and family were allowed through the third gate, as well as 2000 servants. Caldrons where important to catch water and incense burners represented the 18 providences in China.
Incense Burners
Five bridges of Confucius, each representing something different. We crossed the bridge of Intelligence.
Female Guardian (note the hand is on a baby)
Detail of ceilings in Forbidden Palace
After lunch we went to the Summer Palace. The emperor built this palace for his mother as a birthday presents. This is 20 hectors (?US) and consists of a man made mountain and lake. This was where the Dragon Queen, who made the palace famous, resided as well. The Anglo French allies burnt down this palace twice and the Dragon Queen built it after each occurrence. We also got sucked into an art shop where we ended up buying a silk painting. The Dragon Queen was basically the ruler until her son was old enough to take over, from what our tour guide says she was not nice to the people. Walked through the longest corridor in the world, where each beam had a different painting on it.
View of Summer Palace and the Man Made Lake.
Marble Boat |
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