• Dean ParhamChina 2024Traveler
    Outside Mao's mausoleum
    Our guide Maureen was sent away at 17 in the Cultural Revolution and spent 5 years living in a caveInside the Forbidden CityNoodles for lunchThe Temple of HeavenThe tea tastingDinner at the WangsMr Wang even provided some entertainmentA bit of community activity in the hutong

    Out and about in Beijing

    May 11, 2024 in China ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Big day today. Tiananmen Square. It's huge. The locals say it holds a million people -- or 500,000 Americans. The scale of the Forbidden City was amazing. Apparently there are 9,999 buildings.
    We then journeyed somewhere and had the local noodle specialty for lunch.
    On to the Temple of Heaven, where the emperor used to drop in from time to time.
    Then to a tea tasting/ceremony which was pretty interesting and enjoyable.
    Finally a walk around a hutong, which is an enclave of small houses with communal toilets. We had dinner at Mr & Mrs Wang house. All 12 of us crowded around a small table in their upstairs bedroom and had dishes prepared by Mrs Wang. A special experience really.    Read more