Beijing off the Tourist Track - Part 2
Chinese acrobats |
The Lama Temple
Bell Tower at the Lama Temple |
Entrance courtyard of the Lama Temple |
Temple Gate |
Olympic Park
At some point your tour guide is going to take you to the Bird's Nest and The Cube. These are the Olympic stadium and Swimming venue from the 2008 Olympics. They are interesting to look at, especially if you drive by at night when the light shows are on. We visited on a very hazy day.The Bird's Nest |
The Cube |
Hotel - The top is a stylized Olympic flame |
The Hutang
The Hutang is actually the name of the narrow streets and alleys in the oldest parts of the northern cities. The streets are lined with traditional courtyard houses called siheyuan. These houses are four small buildings built around a central yard. One building was for cooking and the other three were living quarters for family, children and servants.Siheyuan |
Hutong |
Wall Decoration |
Courtyard |
Dinning room |
Family bed |
The tour through the Hutang, including a lunch in a siheyung was done by rickshaw. Today they use a pedicab.
Loved seeing the old neighborhood with the courtyard homes. Fascinated by the lives of ordinary folk rather than just the pageantry of the palaces. But I'm sure your group enjoyed them both.
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