Saturday 17 August 2013

Hello Hutong!


12/08/13 


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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