CHINA Oct 30 - Nov 13: Part III - More of Beijing Sightseeing & Hotel Visits

CHINA Fall 2014

BEIJING PART III

Our picture from the Great Wall Fall 2014

Panjiayuan Market

We had a full day today in Beijing.  We went to the Panjiayuan Market which is the Dirt Market.  This is the market if you want to buy non antique antiques.  It is illegal to sell true antiques so what you see are used items.  The market predominantly sells beaded and “jade” jewelry.  I found it to be a total waste of time ... so it will not be in your itinerary unless you crave a flea market!

At the Great Wall of China!

After visiting the Dirt Market, we drove 2 ½ hours to Ming section of the Great Wall.  This part of the Great Wall is known for it's views and because it is further from Beijing, there are definitely less people.  We climbed over 600 uneven stairs (warning if you have any mobility issues) but the view was worth it.  Imperial Tours offers “Imperial Moments” and our moment was a lunch atop the Great Wall.  This is a must!

Dinner was a return to the Duck Restaurant 2 nights ago ... funny, right?

my favorite place in Beijing
The Temple of Heaven

We woke up and went to my favorite place in Beijing – The Temple of Heaven. Here is why ...

In China, generally, women retire at 50 and men retire at 62 years old.  So, what to do during the day after they have taken their grandchildren to school?  The seniors go to the parks surrounding the Temple of Heaven.  This is a peaceful large expanse of green.  When we first arrived, we saw people dancing ... yes, dancing and we joined in!  EVEYRONE was doing their exercises.  There were park like “machines” and people exercising in their own personal space.  From there as we walked through the park, people were smiling and inviting

Jeff dancing with one of our friends on the trip!
China Fall 2014

us to join them.  One very friendly senior offered a home made pancake for me to try and share with our group.  We did and it was quite good.  This is the park that people give their birds “fresh air” as they take their birds in their bird cages to the park.  And then, there was the actual Temple of Heaven which is a must see.  It is China's largest temple and altar complex where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped heaven and prayed for good harvests.  I can't recommend the Temple of Heaven enough?

Aman Hotel at the Summer Palace Aerial View

Aman Hotel at the Summer Palace Lobby

After visiting the Temple of Heaven, we went to the Aman Hotel at the Summer Palace. As an Aman junkie, this is a must as well.  What a serene place 45 minutes outside the center business district of Beijing on the 4^th ring road ... a perfect way to deal with jet-lag and relax as you begin visiting China.  The Summer Palace is beautiful and if you stay at the Aman, you can access the Summer Palace through their secret door rather than deal with the masses visiting the Summer Palace.  The Imperial gardens here and the lake are worth the visit.

 The Summer Palace

China World Summit Hotel
a Shangri La Hotel

Dinner was at the China World Summit Hotel – a Shangri La Hotel.  It boasts the highest hotel rooms in Beijing.  We started our site visit at the top of the hotel – on the 80^th floor.  I didn't like this hotel.  The rooms were odd to me.  The paintings behind the beds were fake and the bathrooms small.  It's fine for a business traveler but as a 5 star luxury hotel, there are better options in Beijing.

As for dinner, well it was another Chinese meal at their signature steak house. The food was good but it just felt wrong.

Tomorrow, we are off to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City then off to X'ian.

A little windy pic at the Great Wall!

The World is Our Playground!

Mari