Beijing China

2008 Olumpics

Beijing China - November 2007..... the place of the 2008 Olympics!

Hotel in Beijing

Staying in a 30 floor hotel....we're on the 18th floor.

Temple of Heaven

No, I don't know the happy couple...it's just so hard to get a clear shot with so many people around!

Ming Tombs

Beijing has clean streets!

Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China

Travelin' by Rickshaw!

Me and my Mom - in Old Town Beijing - We had lunch with a family that lives in Old Town, in a very small house. Each room is separate, and opens to a tiny courtyard area. Then we went for a RickShaw ride around Old Town.

Peking Duck

Our group ate at a restaurant known for their Peking Duck dinners....

Peking Duck Dinner

Our Duck was carved next to our table...how does one know it's duck vs. chicken? They cook it neck, head and all!

Street Food Market

One street we stopped at - had many food vendors.....it was suggested to not try anything...

Street Vendor Selections

Open air market - fresh fish, squid, vegetables and various other meats.....

Got Real Estate?

We had lunch with a local family - and this is their kitchen... one of 4 rooms, each separate.

1 Bedroom Home in Beijing

This is the bedroom - what you see is really all there is.... a bed and a refrigerator! The door leads to an outside patio area - where you can choose to go to kitchen, bathroom, den or tv/dining room.

No SUV's here!

Old Town Beijing streets are very narrow! Most can accomodate a small car and the rickshaw....

Pet Grasshopper

Pets are few in Beijing....lots of fees to keep them! So kids collect grasshoppers and keep them in a cage. Their chirping (similar to that of a cricket) - have pleasing sounds to the Chinese families. And if a grasshopper enters one home on it's own - it's good luck!

Traffic in China

With over 17 million in Shanghai and 19 million in Beijing....bikes and scooters are very common. Cars are limited....and you need to have lots of money to get one for the taxes/fees!

Bonsai!

In the Lingering Garden, a gardener trims one of many Bonai plants.

Silk Worm Factory

Silk products is big business in China.... in the factory, the coccoons are soaked, thread found, and unwound onto reels.One coccoon can have a single thread over 1000 feet long!

Cruising the Canal.....

The Grand Canal is over 1200 miles long, and was built by hand! We took a cruise in a small district of homes, and some areas the passage was big enough for just one boat.

Silk Rug Weavers

We also visited a Silk Rug making factory.... the girls can take up to 2 years to make a rug (depending on size) - and follow a very detailed pattern.