Beijing

The visual impact of arriving at Tienanmen Square and seeing that giant portrait of Mao framed against all that red, looking out over the vast space of the square is quite incredible. Nobody does grand statements like Communists!

He was a bit cranky that I was taking pics and not forming an orderly queue across the bridge into the Forbidden City.

Synchronised walking - my favourite walking of all!

Inside the Forbidden City.








I stayed in one of the Hutong areas of Beijing. Hutong are the courtyard homes unique to Beijing. They are located around the Forbidden City and in recent years have been either routinely knocked down or quickly renovated. I saw a bit of both happening. Compared to the rest of Beijing, it is wonderfully peaceful wandering around the hutongs as the traffic is limited (but in true China style - still very much present) and as you get lost in the laneways you can catch glimpses into other people's homes. I spent the majority of my time riding around these areas on a rent a bike.

Looking through the outer doors or a larger hutong. I think this one was of historical significance.

The courtyard.

When I came back out of the courtyard some people were taking photos. They told me it was because the hutong was very old and the photos were for an art project.

On the wall outside a school. I actually got stuck in the 3pm crowd of parents and children in one of the laneways. It was crazy, you couldn't move for people and still some parents insisted on driving down the lane.

These are the coal briquettes still being used to heat homes in China. A guy will usually cycle past with a tray full of black ones like these and then come back to pick up the used ones, which are usually a brick colour. I think they play a big part in Beijing's air pollution troubles. You also see a lot of discarded used ones lying around.

Souvenirs.

Wanna dress like a Ming dynasty Empress? For 20 RMB you can! I quite liked watching people get dressed in these gowns and then have their pic taken.

I became a little obsessed with construction workers. I think it's the yellow hats.

In front of the Temple of Heaven.

Temple of Heaven dominoes champ.

This lady was leading a few songs for all that wished to join at the Temple of Heaven.

These amped-up harmonicas provided the tunes.

The choir.

Temple of Heaven.

Temple of Heaven musician.

This man chucks hoops around people's necks. I think he is trying to make it an Olympic sport because he threw some around my neck (before I could object) and then got me to sign some sort of petition. Either that or he keeps a list of the fools who don't mind having someone throw hoops around their neck ...
I met him at the Temple of Heaven (where else!)

This man caught ...

... a flying squid!!

This man is a kite seller and Opera teacher (he gave me a business card that advertised both).
We talked about how Beijing was like Melbourne and Shanghai like Sydney.
I bought a dragon kite for Lach and a butterfly kite for myself from him.

Some 'antiques' at the markets.

In front of the nine dragon screen.

This is a little exercise yard they have in the hutongs.

You see old people in their trackies working out very slooooowly on them.

Another shopping centre construction.

The following photos are from inside the Lama temple which houses an 18m tall Buddha carved out of sandlewood.

And of course a souvenir stall in the temple's carpark.

This is the hutong that Jen and Mart had been living in.
I was really proud of my hutong navigation skills when I found it.

A restaurant on the crazy 'Ghost street'.