Fellow Virtual Travelers,
While it seems we've been here for at least two days, we got to the Dongfang Hotel at 1 AM only this morning. Planned and executed a busy day!
We got up at 6 AM to prepare for our first day in Beijing. The Forbidden City is where we spent our morning. The grounds are expansive and mind boggling!
Then we walked up on Coal Hill, which has a nice pavilion that overlooks the Forbidden City. In the time of the Emperors, this huge hill in the middle of the city was made from all the coal slag, left over from heating the Emperor's Forbidden City palace buildings.
Forbidden City
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/forbidden.htm
Coal Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingshan_Park
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/jingshan.htm
We visited the Confucius temple and Lama temple and the famous drum and bell towers of Beijing.
Confucius temple and museum:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Temple_of_Confucius
The drive back to our hotel seemed long in rush hour traffic. There are now 7 million cars in Beijing. It is quite obvious that traffic regulations differ between countries. In the US stripes on the highway are the law, in Europe, painted stripes are guidelines, in China they are merely decorations. We watched an old man dragging a wheeled suitcase across a busy boulevard, head-on into on-coming traffic, oblivious to any danger. He made it across, but we wonder how???
We ate at a local small cafe, and enjoyed a nice "traditional" Chinese meal.
Lastly we walked to a nearby theater and watched a performance of Beijing opera. Still sounds like fighting cats, but definitely a unique cultural experience.
Lots on miles on foot already, with little rest. Definitely will sleep good tonight.
Blessings,
Dennis&Anita