Beer on the train to Beijing
We knew that Beijing was going to be extremely busy during our visit, being the National holidays and the 60th anniversary of the Communist Party, but we were completely unprepared for the crowds that we were confronted with at some of Beijing’s biggest attractions.
Game of Uno anyone?!
After arriving on an overnight train from Xian, we checked into my favourite place to stay in Beijing, Templeside Hutong House. We were very happy to discover a new subway line nearby which had only been open for 4 days. Over the next four days we became experts at using the Beijing subway (I am normally lazy in Beijing and just use taxis), especially pushing our way on and off.
Typical Chinese tourists!
Our first tourist stop was the Summer Palace, where royalty visited to escape the summer heat in the Forbidden City. There was definitely no escaping the crowds here on the day we visited!It was a beautiful place and it is easy to see how it would have once been a calm and serene place to relax but unfortunately the crowds prevented us from enjoying it to its fullest.
Summer Palace
It was after this stressful experience at the Summer Palace that I said to Dad, “If you want to visit the Forbidden City, you’re on your own!” Crowds and me don’t mix at the best of times, but put me in a crowd of loud Chinese tourists pushing to have their photo taken in front of Chairman Mao’s portrait and I’m out of there. But, we made it into Tiananmen Square twice – once at night, when we chose not to battle the crowds and once when we got up early to visit it and were lucky enough to just share the Square with thousands of Chinese tourists, instead of tens of thousands.
Beijing Duck - a 'must' in Beijing
A more sedate and enjoyable experience was our visit to the 798 Art District, an area of old factories, filled with art galleries, funky little stores and cafes. We spent a relaxed morning here poking about in the galleries and enjoying cups of tea in the sun. Following this, I managed to remember the name of the art market I had visited on my first trip to Beijing and we headed there to purchase some art.
798 Art District
Visiting the Olympic venues was a definite highlight of our trip to Beijing. We arrived just as the sun was setting and watched as the Water Cube and Birds Nest lit up the sky. A fabulous job has been done to continue to showcase the 2008 Olympic Games – a huge photo gallery is present, showing off Beijing, celebrating the Olympic participants and praising the volunteers. I wonder if Sydney has anything like this? Stay tuned for the next adventure at one of my favourite tourist spots in China, the Great Wall!
My favourite stall holder at the art market - she and her husband sell black and white photos of Chinese people and places
The pretty water fountains provided a frame for Chairman Mao's portrait!
Entrance to the Forbidden City
The sun sets on the crowds at Tiananmen Square
Sculpture at Olympic Green
The Water Cube at night
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