Saturday March 18, 2017 Xi'an
Yesterday we started at the zoo and were quite amused by the giant pandas. We ate a lazy Susan lunch followed by some free time in the downtown financial district. Next stop was a walk through old town, Ciqikou, a long pedestrian street loaded with tourists, vendors, and food. It was all tourists but very enjoyable. We checked into our hotel and had a Lazy Susan dinner. We had hoped to find a pub for St Pattys but we were a ways out so we had a beer at the hotel bar for the luck of the Irish. We had an early wake up at 5:30 AM and were en route to the airport at 7:30 AM. We. Arrived at the airport at noon, had lunch then checked into out hotel at about 3:30 PM. We had some time to relax, then back out 6:00 PM for a traditional dumpling dinner and dance show.
Our landing area in Chongqing
At the Chongqing Zoo
Red Panda
Giant Panda
Bring to get comfy for a nap
Finally success - fast asleep
The parks in China are free to seniors. Every park we went to was full of seniors playing games, socializing and doing tai chi
Hump day
Having a bad horn day
The big cats were gorgeous. I have mixed feelings on zoos though, always feel bad for the large animals in captivity.
Pig Pile
This pelican obviously bring to get the attention of he passing goose was huge - about three feet tall !
The pelican was successful in his flirting and off he and the goose went....
Jon, Jana and Mike - leaving the zoo
It's all Chinese to me
We did not see much sun in China mostly overcast and smoggy
This dog came flying down the escalator - he does not belong to the guy on the escalator. I love the expression on the guy's face as the dog runs by him !
Sometimes the old ways are still the best....
In a city of over 35 million, there are high rise apartment buildings for miles
Arriving at the old town
Fresh orange juice - did I mention I loved the oranges ?
Lots of character and characters
Love her smile
This area is known for it's hot and spicy food, red peppers ruled here....
A variety of fried seafoods artistically assembled
Skewered spicy frog
Red peppers
This guy was a hoot, smiling singing...
and yet, more red peppers
Artists tools
This guy was making the most beautiful cotton candy flowers. They ranged in price from $1.00 to $2.00
A happy customer !
Kabobs
Me with a street performer
Skewers of everything
The child actually looked quite comfy
Jana and Jon waiting for our flight to Xi'an
The squatty potties were always an adventure. This sign on the stall door was quite amusing, especially the message in the lower right corner that advised "Please slow down after long crouching."
Hmmmppphhhh...
Dumpling and dance dinner show in Xi'an
We were served 16 different types of dumplings with a variety of fillings and shapes - I liked the duck ones in this round
Music and dancers
Sunday March 19, 2017 Xi'an
Yesterday we started our day off at a jade factory. Next we went to a display of where they made terra cotta soldiers, lacquer furniture, then had lunch. After lunch we went to the terra cotta warrior musuem which is a world heritage site. It was very impressive. There was a totally unearthed tera cotta army complete with horses, chariots, weapons and over 8,000 soldiers, each with a unique face and history, built over 2,000 years ago. The Emporer had the army built to protect his tomb. The site was not discovered until 1974 when a farmer was digging a well in his field. The site has been referred to as the 8th wonder of the world. After the musuem we ate dinner, and got back around 8:00 PM.
Yesterday we started our day off at a jade factory. Next we went to a display of where they made terra cotta soldiers, lacquer furniture, then had lunch. After lunch we went to the terra cotta warrior musuem which is a world heritage site. It was very impressive. There was a totally unearthed tera cotta army complete with horses, chariots, weapons and over 8,000 soldiers, each with a unique face and history, built over 2,000 years ago. The Emporer had the army built to protect his tomb. The site was not discovered until 1974 when a farmer was digging a well in his field. The site has been referred to as the 8th wonder of the world. After the musuem we ate dinner, and got back around 8:00 PM.
A perfect boat mobile !
A great kids seat on bicycle
Red lanterns
Jade factory - use drummer to make jade ball, in another jade ball
I bought this one for Jon for Christmas !
Jade Happy Buddha
Jon doing his best terra cotta warrior impression
Sculpture made from jade
Vineyard
Just a bit of hand holding with my guy
Terra cotta warrior work shop
Lots of life size terra cotta warriors
One of these dolls is not like the others
Jon !
Endless cherry blossoms
The real Tera Cotta warriors - the excavation is a work in progress
A typical find - the warriors are not intact, but look like a pile of rubble
Driving back to hotel at night
Had to make a drugstore run - they had both eastern and western medicine choices
Monday March 20, 2017 Beijing
Today we headed to the airport at 9 and caught a noon flight to Beijing. We. Arrived about 2:30 PM. Luckily there was a bit of drizzle so the air quality was pretty good. We spent a couple of hours at the Summer Palace, the summer home of the dragon lady. It was beautiful with gardens and open air pavilions. The entire area is built around Kunming Lake and is about 750 acres with over 3,000 structures. We ate dinner then got checked into our hotel about 8:30 PM. We are right near the Beijing Olympic Site, and we look out at a huge building of five separate lit towers built to welcome the Winter Olympics in 2020. We are really tired with a very full day tomorrow !!!
Today we headed to the airport at 9 and caught a noon flight to Beijing. We. Arrived about 2:30 PM. Luckily there was a bit of drizzle so the air quality was pretty good. We spent a couple of hours at the Summer Palace, the summer home of the dragon lady. It was beautiful with gardens and open air pavilions. The entire area is built around Kunming Lake and is about 750 acres with over 3,000 structures. We ate dinner then got checked into our hotel about 8:30 PM. We are right near the Beijing Olympic Site, and we look out at a huge building of five separate lit towers built to welcome the Winter Olympics in 2020. We are really tired with a very full day tomorrow !!!
Arriving at the summer palace
Mike, Jana, Jon and me
Jon and me at the summer palace
In the nice weather the lake is full of these boats
Some entertainment
This boat was made of marble and actually was floating !
More boats that are out touring about the lake on a nice day
Jon and me
Winding covered walkway around the palace grounds
The "Birds Nest" - building from the Beijing Olympics
Tuesday March 21, 2017 Marco Polo Hotel Beijing
Up 5:30 AM and off at 7:30 AM for a full day of touring. Our first stop was at the Temple of Heaven which was built for offering sacrifices. The emperors would go there one time a year to worship the god of heaven, and pray for a good harvest. The path in was full of different groups of locals playing cards, board games and knitting. The Chinese believed that earth was a square cube, and heaven was round, so the temple was designed with a semi circle in the northern section, and a semi rectangle in the southern part. The belief of earth being square, and heaven round was represented in the chopsticks that have a round tip/end, and a square end. Next stop was lunch. After lunch we visited and walked through Tiananmen Square. We were forewarned not to discuss the 3 T's, Tiananmen Square massacre, Tibet and Taiwan. While at the square, the flag of Israel was being flown and we learned Netenyahu was visiting. The square can hold over 1 million people. The square was surrounded by Chairman Mao's mausoleum, the Chineses History Museum, and the Parliment building. Our last stop was the Forbidden City built during the Ming dynasty. It is the largest palace complex in the world. There are over 1,000 buildings surrounded by 26 foot walls. There were not many viewing oppurtunites to view inside the buildings, but the walk through was beautiful. We had dinner family style at a local home, and our last activity was a rickshaw ride through some narrow back alleys referred to as the old Beijing Hutong. The local home was basically two rooms with a vey small kitchen. There only bathroom is a community bathroom that was around the corner adn it was used by the entire neighborhood. I can not imagine it is much fun getting up in the middle of the night in winter and having to walk outside to go to the bathroom.
Up 5:30 AM and off at 7:30 AM for a full day of touring. Our first stop was at the Temple of Heaven which was built for offering sacrifices. The emperors would go there one time a year to worship the god of heaven, and pray for a good harvest. The path in was full of different groups of locals playing cards, board games and knitting. The Chinese believed that earth was a square cube, and heaven was round, so the temple was designed with a semi circle in the northern section, and a semi rectangle in the southern part. The belief of earth being square, and heaven round was represented in the chopsticks that have a round tip/end, and a square end. Next stop was lunch. After lunch we visited and walked through Tiananmen Square. We were forewarned not to discuss the 3 T's, Tiananmen Square massacre, Tibet and Taiwan. While at the square, the flag of Israel was being flown and we learned Netenyahu was visiting. The square can hold over 1 million people. The square was surrounded by Chairman Mao's mausoleum, the Chineses History Museum, and the Parliment building. Our last stop was the Forbidden City built during the Ming dynasty. It is the largest palace complex in the world. There are over 1,000 buildings surrounded by 26 foot walls. There were not many viewing oppurtunites to view inside the buildings, but the walk through was beautiful. We had dinner family style at a local home, and our last activity was a rickshaw ride through some narrow back alleys referred to as the old Beijing Hutong. The local home was basically two rooms with a vey small kitchen. There only bathroom is a community bathroom that was around the corner adn it was used by the entire neighborhood. I can not imagine it is much fun getting up in the middle of the night in winter and having to walk outside to go to the bathroom.
Oyster full of pearls
Tickets - ready to go in to the temple
There were groups of people all over the temple grounds playing a variety of board games and cards
Temple of heaven
Jon and me
Inside of temple - cow sculptures
Crocheting group, and gals playing cards
Me, Michael and Jana being silly at lunch
Tiananmen Square
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City
Typical corner store
Rickshaw ride to dinner
Yep - the golden arches
Wednesday March 22 2017 Marco Polo Hotel Beijing
We spent our last morning walking on the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China. The total wall was over 3700 miles long. It was a reall steep difficult climb. Unfortunately we think Jon's pneumonia is back and the trip was tough. After the climb, Jon and I explored an area that no one else was at that was really pretty. After the Great Wall we had our final Lazy Susan meal !! We visited a Cloisonne factory and store and got back to hotel around 3:00 PM. Both Jon and Mike were not feeling well, so for our final night in Beijing and China as well, Jana and I ended up going out without the boys. We went across the street to a great Peking duck restarant. Our guide was there and helped us order a delish duck meal and bottle of wine. One of the staff how to show us how we were suppose to eat the meal, and we had quite a case of the giggles.........
We spent our last morning walking on the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China. The total wall was over 3700 miles long. It was a reall steep difficult climb. Unfortunately we think Jon's pneumonia is back and the trip was tough. After the climb, Jon and I explored an area that no one else was at that was really pretty. After the Great Wall we had our final Lazy Susan meal !! We visited a Cloisonne factory and store and got back to hotel around 3:00 PM. Both Jon and Mike were not feeling well, so for our final night in Beijing and China as well, Jana and I ended up going out without the boys. We went across the street to a great Peking duck restarant. Our guide was there and helped us order a delish duck meal and bottle of wine. One of the staff how to show us how we were suppose to eat the meal, and we had quite a case of the giggles.........
Arriving at the Great Wall of China
Climbing up the Great Wall of China
Jon, Mike and Jana
What goes up, must come down....
Jon and me
After we finished our climb, the crowds really piled in - it was full of tourists !
Other side of the road - another section of the Great Wall
Pottery artisan
Our lsat Lazy Susan meal - Amen !
Last night - the guys were both sick so Jana and I were on our own !
The chef and me with our peking duck
Jana and I had no idea how to eat the duck, so we had a little help !
Just a little duck head and tongue delicacy !