Beijing with a bang

first sight of China - snow!
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My first sight of China was amazing - breaking through the clouds to see snow covering all the fields surrounding Beijing.  Even more special was finding out that I had arrived on the last day of China's new years celebrations - meaning many firecrackers going off all day, and fireworks all night!

Anna picked me up from the airport, and I had a great first day doing errands. Now usually doing errands would not be too exciting - but even going to the supermarket in Beijing was an experience.  There were live fish for sale, even little turtles (aww), and many freshly made food like dumplings, noodles, omlettes etc.  I watched a chef making pastry for ages - he took lumps of the dough, rolled it into a long line and twisted it at the same time, folded it into three and by a flick of his wrist it twisted into a coil, which was then fryed golden brown - yum!  We took a rickshaw back home from the supermarket, so much fun tho it seemed to be held to together more by ducktape than anything else!  We also stopped off at an English language bookstore/library where I picked up some tourist information, and had a real coffee. It was like reverse culture shock - stepping back into Wellington by stepping through the door.

Even more special was finding out that I had arrived on the last day of China's new years celebrations.....

Fireworks from Annas place
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That night we went to a great restaurant - in a hutong which is a traditional form of housing in Beijing, with the house being a square around a central courtyard.  The restaurant was actually four houses linked together, when the manager saw us having a nosy around he took us on a tour of the premises which was very interesting.  The rest of the night was spent watching the fireworks from Annas apartment - great entertainment.

I have spent alot of time in Annas apartment, being a bit lazy seeing as I have 2 weeks here, and have been saving the best bits of sightseeing for the tour and with Tammy.  And it was very very cold at the start of the week!  But I have seen a few temples and palaces, never fear.

Anna and the rickshaw - note ducttape
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First stop was a museum of bells, easily got to by the subway.  There were alot of bells, and not much more.  I then took a taxi (very cheap here, much better and more convenient than taking buses) to the Former Residence of Prince Gong, and wandered around his garden.  It was very beautiful with ponds, stone walkways, and caves to get lost in as well as buildings for tea ceremonies and opera.  Would be great for playing hide and seek!

Yesturday I went to the most famous temple in Beijing - the Lama temple, which is a tibetian buddhist temple.  It was very impressive, a series of buildings housing many buddha, all ornately painted.  There were many people paying their respects to the buddhas, by burning three strands of incense at each one, so it was lovely and smelly!  The best bit was a huge Buddha, 18m tall, which has been certified by the Guiness book of records to be carved out of one peice of sandalwood.

Hutong - while I was taking this picture fireworks were going off overhead, but I wasnt clever enough to capture it
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Inside the temple was a "famous carver" of stamps, called chops, that in the old days were used instead of signatures.  I know that he is a famous carver as he was in book of famous carvers, that the girl assisting him showed me.  I decided to get one, but they were a bit expensive but the girl was willing to bargain so I ended up with a chop with my name and chinese characters on it, and a box with ink, for less than the original price of the stamp.  However, later that night Anna took me to a market where I could have got the same for much much less - so another lesson learnt - even if you are in a temple you will still get ripped off!  But I think it is much nicer getting a your name stamp in a temple, rather than a nasty market.

The buddhas knees - all you can see through the normal size doorway
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On Thursday night I joined with my tour group, but had the day free by myself.  I used this time to see the Temple of Heavan - definitely a highlight of Beijing.  It is a huge park, with a series of temples within it for the worshipping of heaven, and for the praying for a good harvest.

The most impressive part is the Temple fo the praying for good harvest - a three tiered perfectly round building set on a stone raised platform, three rings high, in a large square.  Majestic is the best word for it.  Heading south from this temple is a large walking terrace to the actual Temple of Heaven, which is surrounded by The Echo Wall, so called because if you stand at one side you can have a conversation with someone on the other side as the sound bounces around the perfect circle of the wall.  Further along is cirular platform for the scraficing of animals.

The end result of all last nights mayhem - firecrackers amongst the snow
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After these main sites I wandered around the extensive pathways in the park for an hour, always coming across new and interesting things to look at - people playing traditional and non-traditional games, playing instruments and singing (for enjoyment, as no obvious places to put any money if they were busking), beautiful pavillions, other large structures under repair by many men, and more.  It was a great way to spend a pleasant afternoon.