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Published: November 28th 2008
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We were up early dining in the hotel for breakfast. An interesting buffet with all the western tastes we are accustomed to plus extras the Chinese throw in ... like noodles, rice, and a little bit of fish of unknown variety. We are staying at a Holiday Inn so although there is a Chinese flare - IT IS A Holiday Inn. Susie and Jong pick us up for our first tour of the morning. Tian' an Men Square. The Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace, funny how this moniker doesn't fit my thoughts of the young college student facing down the military tank in 1989 - but this day the square is only full of tourists like Brentley and I, listening to a guide explain the history of a city ruled by dynasties, and controlled by leaders like Chairman Mao and in the middle of it all - The Monumnet to the People's Heroes. This monument was erected in 1958 and is decorated with bas-reliefs of episodes of this country's revolutionary history and quips from mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai.
A highlight of the morning: Mao's Mausoleum. When in China do as the Chinese! We jumped into a line
that wrapped around the Mausoleum, in order to view the body of Chairman Mao. Susie, our guide tells us that this line is short, she has seen it tripled in size. I ask her if it is only tourist but she tells me that many Chinese come here from Bejing along with tourists from other parts of the country to pay their respects to the great leader. As we make our way to the mausoleum, Brentley doesn't really feel that he should go see Mao's dead body since communism isn't his belief, but I talk him in to it because I think it is an incredible experience. We wind around very quickly (Susie says the guards only let the guests remain in the hall for about 2 minutes and then they must move on) and as the many hordes of admirers buy flowers to put by Mao's casket we finally arrive within the great room. There's Mao, decked out like a world-class general or chairman in this case. I take a morbid rather twisted view of this communist leader whose been dead for years - I begin to appreciate the embalming process - WOW - he looks great! I ask
Susie later what the government does with all the flowers that are put by his casket - she informs me they are fake and are simply returned to the stand where they were originally bought to be resold again. What a "green" concept! The Chinese are definitely into recycle! This experience brought about an interesting discussion between Susie and Brentley about communisim and why she would think it is necessary.
Next, the Forbidden City! Directly across from Mao's Mausolem and across Tian' an Men Square is one of the entrances to China's most magnificent architectural complex. The palace was built in 1420 and was the exclusive domain of the imperial court and dignitaries until the abdication in 1912. Susie takes us on an extensive tour pointing out and highlighting all of the history of this incredible city. She shows us the harmonious principle of yin and yang in the design of the buildings. The Forbidden City has 9,999 rooms and nine times nine is thought to be especially fortunate thus the doors of imperial use usually contain 81 brass studs. There's roof guardians - all in odd numbers to protect buildings from fire and intricately carved and painted ceilings
throughout.
I must confess I was beginning to feel like a celebrity although I don't think Angie Jolie has anything to worry about - many of the people within the Forbidden City and at the Summer Palace the day before would approach me and ask to have their picture taken with me. I thought this was a riot, apparently many Chinese have not seen many blondes and this was more common in Bejing because of the interior visitors. In Shanghai, the city is so international that a blonde does not bring too many looks. Anyway, I was feeling pretty doggone glamourous until Susie said they probably liked taking photos with me because of "the big nose". Well! That's one way to put me in my place.
After I fought off the photo seekers... we headed to the Coal Hill Garden where we had a good view of the Forbidden City. We also stopped and enjoyed a traditional tea ceremony in the imperial tea house. We tried Jasmine (the favorite of Bejing), lotus flower, and several others. Pure delight.
It was time for lunch and what a fun lunch adventure we had. Susie, Brentley and I hopped the
nearest rickshaw and took off through the hutong for lunch. Hutong means alley and these alleys are near small lakes that or north of the Forbidden City. These hutong, courtyard homes once were the homes of officials for the emperor. Now they are leased (remember no one owns their home in China - they lease for 70 years or rent) usually by government employees. Our lunch hostess was a friendly woman probably in her late 40s, she once was an interior designer and her husband currently works for the government as a train conductor. She has a 24 year old son that also lives in this 250 square foot home. This is middle class in China. The family's average monthly rent? Ten U.S dollars. You know... somethings though are universal... Brentley spied a play station in our dining room which was also a bedroom and our hostess confessed it was her son's! Her food was incredible! We dined on chicken, pork, snow peas, rice and the most wonderful spinach dumplings! Dessert was watermelon. In China... watermelon is always the dessert (smile). And you know this lady was a real cook! She let me take a photo of her kitchen!
Once lunch was complete we traveled to Bejing's Lama Temple passing by the grand buildings of the 2008 Olympics. The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube are even more impressive up close and personal! Although I might have to say the 55 foot high statue of Maitreya (the Future Buddha) carved from a single-block of sandalwood was a most incredible sight and a highlight of our temple tour. The temple is an active practicing Buddha temple and many people come to worship every day, burning incense and praying.
Whew! We packed a lot into this day. But we weren't done! We went back to our hotel for an hour of rest and then we were off to a Kung Fu Show! Great choreography, incredible ballet but slow on the fighting side much to Brentley's dismay. A quick ride back to the hotel where our jasmine pillows we had ordered from room service were waiting. Sweet dreams.
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Chinesetraveler
non-member comment
home ownership
Actually ppl DO own their homes in China. It's the land that they do not have the ownership. When you buy a house in China, you are actually buying the structure and the right to use the land for 70 years......hehe, why 70 years? 70 years later, China probably has changed into a capitalist country. So really, home owners never worry about this 70 y thing.