Winter in Beijing

Asia » China » Beijing
January 10th 2010

Published: January 11th 2010

Winter in Beijing, by Paul From Hong Kong we flew to Beijing. We had spent four months in tropical heat in Southeast Asia, then a bit of time in Hong Kong, which was cool and refreshing. Then it was straight into mid-winter in Beijing. Cold Beijing. Beijing was cold. We were prepared, as you can see from the pictures, but it was cold. Most days were sunny, with highs around freezing and low... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 63, Displayed: 21

Frozen Lake, Summer Palace

It was a lake fringed by countless imperial pagodas and palaces and temples.

Our Hutong, Saturday Afternoon

The hutong (Beijing back alley) that we stayed on was full of great shops and cafes and snack shops, and young fashionable Beijingers turned out on Saturday afternoon, even in the biting cold.

Churros, Beijing Style

We love churros, Mexican (Spanish) long fried donut-like things. In Beijing they're served with "Kyrgyzstan fruit things." They are popular here, as you can see from the line.

Hutong Doorway in the Snow

The hutongs (traditional back alleys) have been redone and fancied up. This is taken early on a day that it eventually snowed a foot.

Hutong in the Snow

Quiet winter morning in the snow.

Watchtower in the Snow

Headed for the Forbidden City, guard-tower or watchtower on the outside wall.

Corner Courtyard in the Snow

On the day it snowed 12-13 inches, Paul went to the Forbidden City.

Snowy Courtyard

Forbidden City

Cute Posing, Forbidden City

Young Chinese women are very cute and very good at posing cutely for pictures.

Forbidden City Blizzard

It was snowing hard. This is a little misleading, because the snow was blowing, but it felt like a blizzard at times.

Totoro Hat

Ella was studying the Beijing map with her cute new Totoro hat that we bought at one of the cute new shops on our hutong.

Beijing apartments

Much of new Beijing looks like this - new, functional, clean, fine, but maybe a bit unexciting and drab. It's very livable, though.

Very Talkative Girl

This girl talked and talked to us in Chinese, smiling this charming, winning smile the whole time. We really wished we could speak Chinese....

Ice Scoobering

This is ice scoobering, scooting along the lake on an ice runner chair, pushing along with these long screwdriver-welded poles.

Ice Skating

A bit unsteady.

Prince Gong's Mansion

We found this former mansion in a tourist brochure. It was an obscure sight (few other people there), but it was excellent.

Sassy Ladies, New Mittens

Prince Gong's Mansion.

Circular Doorway

Prince Gong's Mansion.

Weirdos in Circular Doorway

Prince Gong's Mansion

Snowy Roofs

Prince Gong's Mansion - the snow on the traditional tile Chinese roofs was always beautiful.

Ella and May, Winter Tree

Prince Gong's Mansion

11th January 2010

marian
non-member comment

Beijing winter
I'm going to read this several times, to take it all in. It almost makes me feel like I've been there too. Sounds as if they snow and ice actually gave you a second visit to Beijing, Thanks for putting together these blogs! Marian

11th January 2010

Louisa Goebel
non-member comment

Beijing
Glad to hear China is doing so well! I'm sure Mother and Daddy would be fascinated by all of the changes! Winter sounds like a great time to see Beijing. I will avoid the banana pancake trail and the yoga meditation trail. It is good to sometimes move on. Great pictures! Maybe the middle/old age park dancing will catch on here. Happy Birthday, May! Love, Louisa and Paul

13th January 2010

Holly
non-member comment

Enjoyable evening
I just wanted to thank you for sharing these posts. We've had a run of cold wintry weather and I haven't thought to disco dance in a park or ice scoober, but now I will. I agree with Marian--there's so much to take in from your posts! Patsy--you rock!

16th January 2010

Doris
non-member comment

Beijing
I loved your wonderful description of Beijing. The dancing was great. I would have been right out there with them. I thought I might have seen Ella in the first one. I have always wanted to see the great wall. Your pictures are wonderful. It is cold here also but nothing like what you have. We did have 15 inches of snow 2 weeks before Christmas. In fact some of it is still hanging around. Everyone says it is waiting for more. Thanks for your wonderful blogs. They are great! Doris

9th October 2011

Lorraine L.
non-member comment

SUB ZERO Winter in BEIJING
Winter in Beijing is appealing without so many tourists & is a totally different climate to my home.Thinking of going as extension to Harbin Ice Festival.Friends think it odd.

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Winter in Beijing

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