The Beijing day dawned cloudy, so I decided to run around the Forbidden City’s perimeter, leaving at 6:30 am from the Jade Garden. When I reached the southwest corner, I ran into Catherine (almost literally) out doing the same thing. Together, we ran into the Forbidden City, laughing at the two old Chinese guys playing tennis on the Forbidden City grounds (what would the Emperor say?) and out through the East Gate – nice to have an impromptu Beijing dawn patrol running partner.
Today was an “open day” for our China Mojo group – and everyone made plans to explore the city in their own way. Melanie, Katrina, Catherine and I met our tour guide Lily in the hotel lobby at 8:30 am (she had a day off, and kindly offered to show us around downtown), and headed north on the Beijing public city bus (a 2 yuan tour – cheap and fun) to the famed Bell and Clock towers – two historic Beijing landmarks located on a feng shui-driven vertical axis due north of the Forbidden City and due south of the 2008 Olympic Center.
Beijing's historic Bell Tower - featuring (of course) the world's largest bell.
What a day! We went for a 1 hour rickshaw ride through historic hutongs, took in the famed bell and clock towers, playing a fun game of Chinese hacky sack on the square there with some of the locals). After a fast food lunch (delicious rice, dumplings, pork and chicken), we then visited the largest lama temple outside Tibet (with the world’s biggest Buddha – at 29 meters, Siddhartha is a monster), and cruised through the imperial summer palace before jumping on the city bus for an epic rush hour tour south to Tianan’men and our hotel. Lily proved an engaging and fun tour guide yet again – and I’ll let the photos and video speak for themselves.
Rickshaw ride in downtown Beijing.
Hanging in the hutong.
The lama temple in downtown Beijing - home to the world's largest Buddha.
The imperial summer palace in northwest Beijing.
Back at Tianan’men, I caught the subway over to the northeast embassy district for a Yunnan dinner at a funky resto called “In&Out” with some Vermont friends – Piper and Jim Stover, who are doing some remarkable professional work around renewable and green energy in China. Nice to connect with some familiar faces in this city of 20 million. After returning to Tianan’men by subway, I finally located the famed Emperor Hotel, whose restaurant views are legendary – I might have to return with our China Mojo group for the 67 rmb green tea tiramisu before we depart, and hear stories of how other Chia Mojo’ers spent their day today.
Eating Yunnan = Yum.
Hen Hao!
No comments:
Post a Comment