We have officially been in Beijing
for a week – but more on that later! As we start training tomorrow we wanted to
do something other than laze around on what could be our last day off for a
while. We’ve wanted to see some hutongs for a while so we set off nice and
early, took three subway trains and in less than an hour were walking the
bustling streets. According to my Lonely Planet book the essence of Beijing is
its hutong, the distinctive alleyways that cut across the centre of town. These
passageways offer a very real glimpse of what Beijing was like before the
bulldozers and construction crews got to work.They first appeared in the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) and peaked in the
1950s when it was estimated that there were around 6000 hutongs in Beijing. Now
there are only around 1000-2000 but they are home to 20% of the residents of
inner Beijing.
Hutong Rooftops
Hutong
Traditional houses
I think this is a can of milk...
A Starbucks in the middle of the hutong
Some local drink - I think it's like yogurt
Casually cutting a tree down while everyone just walks around
Puppies for sale!
We spent most of the day just wandering around which was
really nice, especially when we found a music shop and bought new strings for
my ukulele. We also stumbled across the Drum and Bell Towers. These used to be
the city’s official timekeeper, with drums beaten and bells rung to mark the
times of the day. You can actually listen to and watch a performance at the
very top of the Drum Tower and luckily we arrived ten minutes before one was
due to start. It was pretty amazing and lasted for a full five minutes – the
video doesn’t do it justice but it was pretty loud and definitely the most
“Chinese” thing we’ve seen in Beijing. Just think, Mulan probably heard the
same thing before she went off to defeat the Huns!
Drums in the Drum Tower
A view from the Drum Tower
An original drum
Steep stairs!
The Bell Tower
More stairs
The bell
Looking from the Bell Tower to the Drum Tower
After our busy day we headed home and tried the restaurant
directly across from our apartment. Again we only ordered one dish and one rice
dish but as always, it was more than enough. In fact, the rice was absolutely
massive. It would easily have done a family of 4-6 but people in China seem to
eat loads. I was watching the couple at the table next to us and they ordered
two dished, a noodle side dish, another huge meat dish and a big plate of fried
pancake/bread things. I have never seen anything like it before, even when I
was in America the portion size was well under half of what this couple was
eating and yet they were super thin! Oh China!
It’s strange to think we’ve been here for a week but I’m
pleased to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Beijing. I wasn’t expecting a
lot and to be honest I didn’t want to come at all but it’s been really good
thus far. There are a few things that might take a while to get used to; I’m
not fond of the pushy rude people and the novelty of the smog/occasional
thunder and lightning will soon wear off but really there’s not much to
complain about. I do miss Kelso; he’d go down a treat in China. Literally.
They’d probably eat him!
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