Bye Beijing and Back to Shenyang

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Here we say good-bye to Beijing with a visit to the Legation Quarter and Wangfuxing Market, hop on an Air China flight to Shenyang, and discover that we have been upgraded to Club level at the hotel and get a special discount on dinner because it is Chinese Valentine's Day!

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Photos

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This area (to the north of the Temple of Heaven) used to be the Legation Area (mostly embassies). there are still some traces of the European influence if you know where to look. We do (we have a good tour book).

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Note this sign and the next one. It's all about peace love, and openness.

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Friendship and openness... so we stopped and asked if we could have a little look at the area - devoted to peace and other countries. We were summarily dismissed and invited to leave. Hmph.

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On our walk to Wangfuxian street market (which turned out to also be a large shopping mall with luxury stores).

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Soldiers on guard for an upcoming parade.

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Entrance to the market area.

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Scorpions on a stick, anyone? Yum!

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Hawthorne berries, sugared and skewered. These are good.

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Time for a pedi.

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Bridal exhibit at the luxury mall. This model wanted me to take her photo, glad to oblige.

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This bride is texting her BFF to tell her all is well.

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Supermarket, candy and pastry area. Amazing stuff here, we got some sesame and peanut-brittle type stuff. Excellent.

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This is for Sarah. Poor translations is everywear.

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Another view of the market street.

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Our cab driver - on the way to the Beijing airport - just suddenly pulled over and evidently had to use the bathroom. He left the car running, keys in the ignition, huge stack of cash (probably thousands of yuan bills) and came back fairly quickly. Very trusting soul...

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One of our customers...

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Not your typical toll booth, eh?