Beijing - Monday July 2

6:30 wake-up call – arranged by our tour guide, except we were already up before 5:00 AM.
Breakfast buffet in the lobby restaurant of our hotel. A mix of Eastern and Western foods.

8:oo AM bus departure to Tiananmen Square. This was our first dealing with the myriad of hawkers that we found all over China. Quite persistent they are! We did have a group picture taken, and did purchase the souvenir book - 100 Yuan. Exchange was approximately 7.5 yuan = $1.

Walked to the Forbidden City.

In China some of the public restrooms are rated on a 1 to 5 *****. Right inside the South entrance, to the left was the first of the public restrooms we encountered. It had 5 ***** above the entrance. There were 2 western stalls and a handicap toilet that was western. All the others were Asian squat type toilets. Be sure to bring your own toilet paper and seat liners if you choose. Hand sanitizer wipes are another necessity.

12:00 PM on the bus to Hutong Area 衚衕

We had an itinerary switch and went to the Hutong area today instead of Wednesday. Here we boarded bicycle rickshaws to tour the narrow alleys.

The restroom at the Bell Drum Tower – 3 *** - only squat toilets.

We were driven to a “local” lunch – a meal served at the home of a local family. Many dishes were served, including dumplings. The food was basically good, if a little bland.

Back by rickshaw to a performance at the Drum Tower. We opted to not climb the 69 narrow stairs to the top.

3:00 PM tour of a local kindergarten.

We were told that this is a type of “day care” for 3 – 6 year olds, some of whom spend the night there. It evoked a sense of strangeness to us, given the security and privacy issues and laws in the US. We could walk right in and take pictures of the kindergarten and the children. We were also told that this is one of the better facilities that more affluent families might send their children here! The kindergarten is open for posted tour hours of 9 – 5:15 . “It teaches children discipline, with only 1 child in the family” – Olivia.

Can’t figure the whole Hutong/kindergarten thing - propaganda? Ming told us they were “wealthy” people due to the cost if they sold the land. Olivia, our local guide, said we were seeing the “other side”, that it was/is government housing and they pay small amount of $$ to the government each year.

Bus to the Temple of Heaven. Rest room – 4 ****. 2 western toilets and 1 handicap western toilet.

5:15 PM bus to hotel – ½ hour. Ming told us “If the price is negotiable so is the quality” is a Chinese saying. She told us Beijing is known for Jade, Xian for lacquer, Hangzhou for tea and Shanghai for silk.

Shower! – The heat and grit was getting to us. At the Temple of Heaven the heat and jet lag set in a bit, I was getting a little nauseous, and really needed a shower and a little bit of rest. The smog is incredible, and I could feel the grit on my skin.

Dinner was out our hotel and to the left around the corner. Translated to “China Happy Pavilion Restaurant”. Many dishes some of which were a little spicy. Whole fish, egg drop soup, candied apple and an egg dish.

Throughout the day we were transported by a 52 person air conditioned motor coach for the 13 tour members plus our national and local guide. We also picked up another local guide for the Hutong area (Rose?).

Olivia was very cute and informative. She would frequently finish her sentences with “Ya?” as in “we go to hotel, ya?”, “we go to bus, ya?”

Ming seems better educated, more liberal and has better English. She told us that Olivia is a communist, as was our bus driver, but that she is not. She told us that she had no desire, must study, take a test and then continue to learn and gather to discuss.