| Beijing - more trip details about this segment of our tour | ||
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The Forbidden City The Forbidden City was off-limits to most of the world for 500 years. This grouping of 800 buildingd with 9,999 rooms evokes images of beautiful concubines guarded by muscular eunuchs, aged emperors, and conspicuous wealth beyond the imaging of the ancient poverty chained Chinese peasant.  Most of the existing buildings were built from 1700 on. Older buildings were repeatedly destroyed by fire or invading armies. A full time maintenance and restoration army works continually on the structures. Roughly 10 year cycles are required to repair and maintain the complex before it is time to begin again.  Chinese Acrobats!  For some, the acrobats will be the highlight of our Beijing visit. |
Meeting
the People During out stay in Beijing we'll be accompanied by a Chinese speaking guide most of the time. In addition we will probably meet some Chinese natives and have the opportunity to talk and eat with them. Friends of Keith will probably join us for an evening meal and possibly come along with us during some the sightseeing. They like to practice their English and to meet foreigners. Our clients have told us that this adds a lot of interest to the tours. One afternoon (time permitting) we will take a leisurely rickshaw ride through some of the ancient hutong areas. These areas have remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of years. Now, as Beijing gradually undergoes total redevelopment those hutongs are disappearing. The old face of China is slowly getting rebuilt.  One evening while in Beijing we'll eat dinner outside (weather permitting) from street vendors and open fronted cafes. Those who don't feel so adventuresome about their food choices will have a good meal in a nice restaurant. Keith, who is leading this trip, loves to eat from street vendors and outdoor food stands. Whether in New York at a hot dog cart, Mexico at a taco stand or here in China at a street vendors' stand he is compelled to test and taste as wide a variety of food as he can find.  |
Our hotel choice in Beijing is the 4 star Peixin Hotel. We
also use the 3 star Chongwenmen Hotel and the 4 star Golden Palace
Hotel.
The
Summer Palace The
Lama Temple |
Gray whales, Tigers,
Elephants, Giant Panda Bears, Blue whales, Whale sharks, Narwhals China, Canada, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Philippine Islands, Mexico, Arctic Circle copyright 2007, Keith Jones No images may be used without written permission of copyright holder California registered seller of travel #2055660-50 Unique vacations normally involving animals, culture and adventure keith@greywhale.com or rowman1998@yahoo.com |
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