I still have almost 4 days left in Beijing after return from Harbin. It needs to go somewhere because I have enough of Beijing already. Tianjin will be the first choice because near by and get there in 30 minutes by the new bullet train. I take me longer to get to the train station by subway. The new line 4 go direct into the train station without get out to the street. There are 3 to 4 trains per hour, very frequent route. When I ask people in Beijing, everyone except one said there is not much to see in [View Full Entry]

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The Korea trip has been trying for two dates still not has enough people sign up. Harbin is the final choice after some serious thinking; because that is the only place I did not go in China yet. I do not want to stay in Beijing for that long. Good practice for my Chinese too. It is off season and before the annual ice festival, train ticket is not that hard to get a soft sleeper. The school just finished yesterday, it is a little rush to pack for the cold weather. I thought it will be empty at the train, [View Full Entry]

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It has been more than three months in Beijing. I have the first handed opportunity to understand the city and China. The learning experience is great both in the real life and school. If I can stay three more months will improve my language a lot. When I am started getting a hand on it and time to pack. I achieve my goal of able to communicate; I do not expect to speak fluently at this short time. I am able to get what I needed for the daily live here. Even a local old lady compliments my speaking is not [View Full Entry]

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Beijing goes a long way since the Mao time of the blue Mao’s outfit. The greatest changes are in the last 5 to 10 years. No matter in the air quality, housing, mass transit, people’s behavior or cleaner toilets has been improved a great amount. However, as a world class city there are still works to be done. Cost of living is relatively low in Beijing, but if you work here and try to live a comfortably life is not that easy. According to a local newspaper the recent college graduate monthly salary is in the highest of 7,817 rmb to [View Full Entry]

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The Temple of Heaven, 天壇 is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing, in Xuanwu District. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist temple. The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century. [View Full Entry]

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At the center of the ancient city of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Built in 1406 with more than 8000 structures and 1.5 millions pieces of collection. Today, the Palace Museum (formerly Forbidden City) is a public museum and World Heritage site. It was renovated again for the 2008 Olympic, so it still has the fresh look. Most of the tourist places go in to the low season rate since Nov. 1. The admission rate is 40 rmb and student rate is half the price. It is a better time to visit the places [View Full Entry]

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If you really want to see the average Beijing live, this stretch of street will fit your bill. It only goes straight and no turns, so you will not get lost. You can get off the Xidan subway station and heading north. There are many modern buildings and shops in the Xidan area. Large volume of both locals and some tourist shopping here. You can spend a whole day there if you want to shop. The first few blocks of the street is full of wedding photo studios, some of them are very fancy set up with individual counseling station with [View Full Entry]

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Beihai Park is behind the Palace Museum, approximately one mile west of the rear exit. It is also south of the Houhai area. I saw some tour group go here after the tour in the Palace Museum. The cost to get in the park is 5 rmb. If you want to go to the temple at the top and the city wall is 15 rmb. The lake is frozen now so is very clam and quiet. There are many lotus plants on the lake. It must be very beautiful during the early summer when they are in full bloom [View Full Entry]

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I have been waiting for the good weekend to go to the Great Wall. Wait too long for a clear sky and come the unexpected early snow, wipe out all the color leaves. When wait for the snow, and snow comes I do not have time to go. It snow earlier during the week and has been very cold in the 30’. I figure the snow is not going to melt so soon. I look at the sky at Fri. night, I think this is the time to go, otherwise I will miss out again. I can either take the train [View Full Entry]

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The second session of the class the teacher is sick. We can either switch class or make up class next week. Most people prefer get off early and make up class next week. I think is a bad idea. I have the whole afternoon and half the morning off, I can go somewhere. However I was not prepared for it. I only have the pocket camera and low on memory. It will take too long to go back to the apartment. I just hopped on the bus 690 in front of BLCU and head to the Summer Palace for 1 rmb. [View Full Entry]

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