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Published: December 18th 2011
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Dragonfruit
For Breakfast, I chose an interesting looking item from the fruit buffet, which I later found out was called "Dragonfruit". We had a restful first night and made our way to the lounge for breakfast. In an attempt to try a new food each day, the first item I picked up was near familiar fruits like pineapple and watermelon, but was a white fleshy fruit with black seeds inside, with a skin that looked like onion. The flavor was mild but I thought it must be related somehow to the kiwi. After returning to our room, I found out that it was called 'dragonfruit'.
In the afternoon we met a friend of Liang's family, 'Roger', who took a 5-hour trainride in from Shenyang this morning to be our guide. We took a cab to Tian'an Men Square (where Chairman Mao is buried), walked through a Beijing city gate house (which used to guard old Beijing city limits) and through a centuries old shopping district.
The construction of old buildings in China is very interesting. Many buildings were built without using a single nail (furniture too). Using a Peg-and-hole design with the pieces of wood, no nails were needed (think giant wooden legos). Its amazing to stand under these massive buildings knowing there are no nails holding them together, yet
Tian'an Men Square
Chairman Mao's photo, looking towards the Forbidden City. they have lasted for hundreds of years!
Some of the shops in the old district date back to the 1700s, but there is also a lot of modern influence. I find the best indicator of the age of the buildings to be to look up at the top. The intricate designs and care taken in creating these buildings has not been seen for some time. There is also a lot of pressure to bring commercialized holidays, such as Christmas, to China. Although the Chinese do not celebrate Christmas the city is busy decorating for the holiday. This was 'forced' upon the area by the companies that benefit from this holiday. It is sad that this has happened, but the Chinese do a fabulous job decorating. As Liang said when referring to the Olympics, its hard to outdo China!
After several hours we took the subway back to the hotel- boy was that an experience! Like the roadways, the subways are jam-packed. When you think you can't fit another person into the subway car, you push and shove until you cram everyone in. Liang's tactic was to put me in front of him and when the doors were about
Beijing Gatehouse
The "nail-less" construction of the Gatehouse. Furniture was also built this way, with interlocking wood pieces instead of with nails. to close, shove as hard as he could to get his rear inside the train!
Hospitality in China is absolutely amazing. A dinner was hosted at a local restaurant known for their Peking Duck in honor of our arrival in China. Two business partners of Liang's dad took a 12-hour train ride from Xi'an to join about eight other people for a "family style" Chinese dinner in a private room of the restaurant. I think I covered my "new food" quota for the next several days during that meal! For over three hours the food kept coming, one dish after another squeezed on to a rotating caroussel in the middle of the table. Endless Chinese tea (that I was told was very expensive), two different kinds of soup, and several bottles of expensive Chinese liquor. The Chinese toast throughout the meal to one another, and many toasts were made to us, so Liang is now sound asleep after having more than his share of "Gan Bei"!
Now, I am ready to settle in for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow: The Forbidden City & Liang's parents and sister arrive! Goodnight (or goodmorning to all my American (měiguórén) friends!)
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