First Introduction to China

Saga of leaving Hong Kong! Both Dave and I woke up about 3.30am, and lay there wide awake (stll jetlag problems). Eventually we put the TV on, and read our books till 5.30am when we were due to be picked up anyway. We get picked up by our shuttle bus at 6.15 am for a 10.30am flight! So early start, and long wait at airport before we fly out. Then when we arrive our flight is delayed until 11.40am. So not a great start, however, once get on board, there is another delay from the watch tower, who delayed our take off due to weather conditions! I think they couldn’t fit our flight in straight away due to jams on the runway! We left at 1.30pm in the end, and flew fast and furious across the sea, and overland to Beijing. I tried to nana nap, (remember our early morning start after poor sleep?), but couldn’t. We flew Air China on an extremely run-down looking plane, inside and out, and this made me rather anxious, so no naps, (but there was a small screen you could try and watch a movie in Chinese if you wanted too – no subtitles). Was terrified our guide wouldn’t be there, but low and behold, there was this lovely Chinese girl with a sign with our names on it. Could have kissed her! Her name was Sasha, and she got us out of the huge airport and led us to a chauffeur driven car, and off we went! It was hot and sticky outside, and full of smog everywhere! Forgot about that aspect, and it was so bad you could hardly see 200 metres in front of you. We arrived at peak traffic time and then discovered the driving was as mad as in Istanbul or Paris! Not many lanes, lots of pulling in front of people, and scooters and bikes are a danger in themselves! 21 million in Beijing, and I think they were all on the road. It was in the car, conversing to Sasha, that we discovered that our tour was a personal guided tour, only her, the chauffeur, and us! Talk about service,- it was the way to go. She took us into the hotel and sorted out our room and bags etc all in Chinese, absolutely brilliant! Here are some photos of first impressions of Beijing.

Our hotel, booked by the tour group, is one of the most known ones in Beijing, and hold s the concert hall where the Peking Opera is held. So obviously a very big hotel, and classy. Not modern, as it has old Chinese artifacts, vases and silk screens etc but modern décor in the rooms. First day in Beijing We were stuffed from the long day yesterday, (remember being up and wide awake at 3.30am?) so slept through to 8.30am. Our guide was picking us up at 9, plus we had to get dressed, go down to breakfast, (part of the deal) and be in lobby for her. Did it, but really gulping down breakfast. We were driven in car (Dave thought it was a Lexus, but ended up being a Chinese built car copied from Lexus) to Tiemen Square. There were people everywhere, which was a great surprise. Sasha told us that most were lining up to visit Mao’s tomb, which is a great big building on side of square. They can’t take in belongings, so leave them all in a bunch on the ground (most were unattended). The queue to visit his tomb was as long as Effiel Tower, but moving faster. The square is huge, the edges were hidden in smog! It has got the massive govt. building on one side, the museum on the other, Mao’s tomb on the other and then there is the entrance to the Forbidden City on the other. Once we got past the Mao queue, the rest of the crowd were moving towards the Forbidden City. Sasha our guide made a comment on the amount of people around, (lots) and realised that today was the start of the school holidays! (great – just what we need in a crowded city anyway!). As you can see the smog just as bad today. Plus the heat and humidity!

Forbidden City This was where the Emperors in China have hung out since 1400, and once again is huge. We had to fight our way through 3 gateways ( Gate of Eternal Peace etc) and over a moat (to help stop invaders getting the Emperor) each area got you closer and closer to where the Emperor actually lived. No wonder the locals of the time never got to see him, only the nobles got anywhere near close. I was reminded of the movie (the Last Emperor) who had an Englishman/Scotsman? teach him English as he wanted to be more Westernised. When we finally got to the rooms where he lived, it was actually quite small, with his wife next door, and five favourite concubines nearby as well. Sacha was a mine of information, so it was fantastic having your own personal guide to take you through. She also knew where she was going (lots of diff. rooms and courtyards and easy to get lost). Was very pleased to leave, as too many people and tour groups lead by guides with flags on poles and talking into microphones with loud speakers. (all in Chinese so not much help to English speaking people). Dave and Sasha kept laughing at locals literally stopping in their tracks and staring at me ( had not seen a blonde person before except in movies). One even came up and started talking to Sasha about me, where we were from etc. I felt like a movie star, actually too busy looking at things to notice! After that we had lunch at this flash harry restaurant (paid for by the tour, Sasha and driver couldn’t sit with us, they were at the ‘workers table’). Chinese food, and Chinese wine, the lemon duck was so yum, only had chopsticks to eat with, so made the most of it.

Was very pleased to leave, as too many people and tour groups lead by guides with flags on poles and talking into microphones with loud speakers. (all in Chinese so not much help to English speaking people). Dave and Sasha kept laughing at locals literally stopping in their tracks and staring at me ( had not seen a blonde person before except in movies). One even came up and started talking to Sasha about me, where we were from etc. I felt like a movie star, actually too busy looking at things to notice! After that we had lunch at this flash harry restaurant (paid for by the tour, Sasha and driver couldn’t sit with us, they were at the ‘workers table’). Chinese food, and Chinese wine, the lemon duck was so yum, only had chopsticks to eat with, so made the most of it. Then on to the Summer Palace – which was this place the Emperor had built for this mother the Emperess Dowager in the 1800’s. It once again had rooms and courtyards, but much lovelier gardens and a huge lake which takes you 3 hours if you want to walk around it! (all in the middle of Beijing). We walked around this covered pathway by the lake then took a boat across the lake to the other side. Once again lots of people staring at my hair, (am I really that foreign – looking? Other Europeans around, but none with blonde hair I noticed).

After a couple of hours there, we were then driven to a Silk factory, and watched them making silk …… duvets! Yes I kid you not! Hand made inners out of silk – looks a bit like the synthetic stuff but doesn’t bunch up, anti-allergies, and soft as anything. Amazing. End of big day, once more into Beijing traffic. Discovered our drivers name is Mr Sun (he is a big man, think Sumo wrestler, but has this fat round face that always smiles! so I guess his name is appropriate!)app. all tourist chauffeurs are employed by Ministry of Transport and the cars belong to Govt. does that mean they want us watched over by one of their own or that they don't want foreigners having accidents in cars!??? could be bit of both. He didn't speak English, tho I noticed Sasha was very careful today about what she said about the political aspect of Chinese life. Kept very neutral and said things I felt may be doctrine, or she is told what she can say.