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Published: November 2nd 2013
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Here we are, back in China...and reaching soon the last leg of this amazing trip. We made it to the 30 hours trip on the train from Ulan Baator...not the best train ride ever, but it was nice to arrive in Beijing...sunny Beijing with a very enjoyable autumn temperature...we have left the cold behind us!
My first visit to Beijing was back in November 2001. It was with Leslie, and he did some of his first steps on the Great Wall of China. My last visit of Beijing was back in November 2006, and that was a pretty none eventful stay. In between, I did come few times, but these were business trips, and not much time to visit around.
I would never live in Beijing. First for the pollution, second for the crowds, and third for the weather...spring and autumn are nice...but this is about it. But as a tourist, if you plan properly, this is an amazing place, with so much to visit. And this time I found out...I actually had seen close to nothing during my previous visits.
We arrived middle of the afternoon...and our first stop after a
good shower and leaving the bags in the hotel....was...for friends. Friends was what would also rhythm our next few days in Beijing and Shanghai. We made it to Sanlitun for happy hour. The place has changed so much, you could be anywhere in Hong Kong or Shanghai...this place was clearly not the same back in 2001!
Than came our first long day...in and out of Beijing. Leslie had done the walk at Badaling...sadly I do not have any digital picture of it with me. It was before my digital camera, and the pictures are in the storage in Bangkok. This time, we headed by taxi to Mutianya...with more steps, but amazing views. Mutianya was a good two hours and a half from downtown Beijing. Well, it's only 100km away, but that is what it takes with the non-stop traffic jams of the Chinese capital.
It was a beautiful day...slightly crowded one...but these colors of autumn are simply stunning. We walked a lot...well....we even run a little as we didn't plan for such a long and steep walk. They have thousands of steps, but this made the experience even better. We made it a little
easier by taking the gondola on our way up...and continued for all the ups and downs with our legs...even to go down...nearly in time to our awaiting taxi.
So this was my second visit to the Great Wall....same for Leslie, and a first for Tiffany. You cannot even imagine the importance of the Great Wall to me. First, the steps of Leslie done here 12 years ago where a moment I will never forget. Imagine your first child doing some of his first steps on such a place. Well, I remember that day was way colder too! Next, I owe a lot to the Great Wall, and to a guy called Karl Lagerfeld. I know, I've lost you there...but back in early 2007, I had to make a tuff decision that was mainly triggered by the conjunction of Karl and the Wall...and pretty soon, I would find out that I had avoided to do one of the biggest mistake in my life. Thanks Karl! The Wall will always be the Wall...and I owe him one!
We than rush back to the city, and the traffic jams, as I wanted to reach the Temple of
Heaven before sunset. We made it, just...but we made it. Imagine, this is the first time I come here...how could I have forget to put this on my itinerary for my previous visits to Beijing. Do come here at sunset, this place is unbelievable. The crowds had disappeared...few people were left when they had to throw us out as it was already 6pm. We kept our day to those two great places...it may have been Saturday night, none of us wanted to head out for a crazy night!
Next morning....with hundred of thousands of Chinese tourists...we headed to the Forbidden City. I have never seen such a crowd. I know, we should have come here on a Tuesday morning, and not a Sunday morning...but on Tuesday, we would already be in Shanghai. So we simply went with the flow, and simply enjoyed this amazing place for a full morning.
Lunch was the traditional Beijing roast duck...the kids loved it! To save our legs...but still with the crowds...we made it this afternoon to the Olympic Parks and the CCTV tower. It was the end of the Beijing Marathon...so more crowds next to the Olympic stadium.
And I have to admit, I'm bluffed by some of those people....they just run a marathon, and they are on their way back home...by subway...I'm impressed!
The CCTV tower is this crazy building you see in the pictures. I wanted to see it...and impressive it is too! Than came Sunday night, and one more dinner with friends. But our little stay in Beijing was not over. On Monday morning, we joined the crowds...yes, more crowds at the Summer Palace...another place I had never been too.
It was already time to hit the road back to the hotel, fast check-out, and on our way to the railway station...for our last train, or actually nearly our last train...to reach Shanghai...
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Very nice shot
So many places, so little time.