Day 1: Beijing
After a 16 hour flight and great night’s rest in our hotel, we embarked on our 1st expedition in China with our new travel group and guide. Being apprehensive about traveling with a tour, I wasn’t sure how this trip was going to go, but with a teenager and two seniors along for the ride, it seemed like the best way to go.
We started day one walking through Tienanmen Square. It was enourmous, and full of people. The line was forming for the people to pay their respects to Chairman Mao, and it seemed to go on forever. Groups of young soldiers could be seen walking throughout the square, not very intimidating, but their presence was definitely felt.
We then moved on to The Forbidden City. It seemed like a neverending maze of amazing red corridors opening up into expansive courtyards. I was impressed with the elevation changes throughout, giving us many different angles and views that I had never seen in books. It was a pretty exhausting walk, with several stops at which our local guide George woud explain everything within our sight, as well as the history and current results of what went on behind the walls.
After having our fill of the Forbidden City, we were given a tour of the Hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City, including lunch within one of the local’s homes. Again, hearing the history of the area and seeing it first hand really brought together the past and the present, and meeting someone who lives there gave us a face to go with the stories.
Finally, as if this wasn’t enough, we made a stop at the Olympic Village, with the Bird’s Nest as the most prominant attraction. It was impressive, albeit a bit lonely considering the glorious past and the rather bland use of it in modern day.
Looking back at this day, I could already tell that we had an amazing guide, and a surprisingly fun group. My worries of traveling with strangers was disappearing, because everyone was really getting along, and our guides were proving themselves to be very knowledgable, capable, and attentive to the group.
Mass calisthenics routines, launched in 1951 by Chairman Mao, required all workers and students to perform exercises in unison twice a day.
Traffic in Beijing was so bad that it took us 15 minutes to move 100 ft. Neither pedestrians nor drivers heed the traffic signals.
The bus drivers in China can squeeze their way between just about anything, as long as there’s an inch left on either side.
Built in 1651, Tiananmen Square is currently the largest city square in the world.
The Great Hall of the People flanks the west side of the Square.
With the conscription of over one million civilian workers and artisans, the Forbidden City was completed in 1420 after only 14 years of construction.
Higher standards of living coupled with increased government campaigns for tourism have made noticeable impacts in the amount of Chinese tourists all around China. The majority of tourists in Beijing are Chinese Nationals.
Twenty-four emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled the nation from this Hall of Supreme Harmony. National celebrations and ceremonies including
the enthronement of new emperors were held here.
Restoration is on-going. However, ancient recipes for mixing colors with natural elements have been lost. Fifteen layers of bricks laid in a crisscross pattern provided tight security against tunneling into this 10,000 sq. meter courtyard.
There are 9,999 rooms in this palace.
Mystical creatures lead by an immortal decorate the upturned eaves of each building. The more animals there are, the more important the building.
These double-doors are the only ones with an even number of golden knobs in the whole palace. Imperial funeral processions left the palace through this gate, marking it as part of the realm of the dead or belonging to the yin. Even numbers belong to yin.
Nine is the most auspicious number in Chinese culture. In ancient times, 9 is a number reserved for the emperor. Doors of the Forbidden City are adorned with golden knobs in arrays of 9x9, 7x7, or 5x5, denoting three different ranks.
Hutongs are narrow alleys lined by a compound of houses around a courtyard. Many old Beijing residents have lived here for generations, now with government subsidized rent.
Bird’s Nest, stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Day 2: Outside Beijing
Day 2 of our trip began with a short stop at the Sacred Way, a tomb and long stretch of carved statues. After the crazy streets in Beijing, this was a nice change of pace. The weather was hazy, and this serene, isolated feeling permeated the area. It was nice to be in a spot with no crowds, and it gave us time to really enjoy the sculptures.
After a quick stop at a jade factory and showroom, we arrived at what we had all been waiting for, The Great Wall. The section we were visiting was touted as the less commercialized section of the wall. Climbing through the first stage, surrounded by vendors, I was doubting the claim. Once we reached the actual wall, however, all of that disappeared. It felt like you stepped back in history and were a part of the conflicts that occured on and around the wall. The hike to the top section was enjoyable and a little tiring, but the views were amazing. Despite the hazy sky, you could view the wall snaking its way over the landscape, just like in all the photos we’d seen online. Overall I think this was one of the most memorable parts of China. It definitely lives up to it’s reputation.
After almost losing one of our group to an overenthusiastic mob of vendors, we arrived to find we were late getting to our bus, but thankfully they were kind enough to wait for us! A nice ride through the countryside brought us back to our hotel, where we once again slept like babies.
The Sacred Way to the tombs of the Ming emperors is 4 miles of straight, wide path lined by stone statutes of humans and animals.
The camel and the elephant are symbols of the vast territory under the control of the court.
Constructed in 1540, this is the biggest stone archway in China today.
An hour away from the city, the Mutianyu Great Wall (also known as the old section) winds along the ridges of craggy mountains.
In the 5th Century BC during the Warring States Period, each state built its own wall made mainly of rammed earth to protect its border. In 221 BC Qin Shi Huang conquered all the other states, unified China, and proclaimed himself the First Emperor of China, establishing the Qin Dynasty. He then ordered the incorporation of all walls into a longer continuous fortification to protect his territory from northern invaders. Following dynasties continued to restore, rebuild, and expand the Great Wall. The majority of the Great Wall that is still standing today was built during the Ming Dynasty with the use of bricks and stones lending it stronger and more durable.
Over one million workers died during the building of the wall.
The sun finally breaks through the Beijing haze as we climb back down.
Day 3: Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
Day 3 was by far the coldest day we encountered. Despite the weather, the Temple of Heaven was one of the most light-hearted places we visited. The architecture was beautiful as expected. It had all the ornate design that we began to recognize and understand, but also had the added touch of being surrounded by nature.
To our surprise, the park was seemingly overrun by the elderly. Not the nursing home types, but active, lively, smiling old people. Everywhere you looked they were exercising, playing games, dancing and making music. Our group even kept warm by participating in one of the group exercise routines!
After the Temple of Heaven, we proceeded on to the Summer Palace. It’s a complex of walkways, temples and bridges surrounding a very large but shallow lake.
It was a long, cold walk, with temples rising out of the hills in the far off distance. Near the end, our group experienced what would become a beloved pastime of a few of our members: haggling.
Local residents fully utilize the Temple of Heaven Park for many social activities such as learning to dance, singing, playing musical instruments, playing cards, and exercising.
Exercise equipment are stationed at outdoor parks all throughout the city to encourage physical activity.
Every Winter Solstice, Ming and Qing emperors offered sacrifices to Heaven to express their gratitude and pray for a good future. Hence the name of the structure, The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.
After an eight-minute routine of simple arm movements, Thu didn’t need her beanie and scarf anymore. She was actually sweating.
We joined a small group practicing Tai Chi.
Originally named Qingyi Garden (Garden of Clear Ripples), it was renamed The Summer Palace by the Empress Dowager Cixi, The Dragon Lady, in 1888. Using funds allocated for the Navy, the Dragon Lady reconstructed this area strictly for her own use, entertaining and conducting state affairs from this lake-view venue.
To impress upon her people the tremendous wealth and power she possessed, the Dragon Lady commissioned this boat made of marble.
