It's the official Labour Holiday today, but most people have the entire week off. Enough said. Imagine walking along the streets, worming your way in and out of, not hundreds, not thousands, but tens of thousands of people.
Electronics Market
We started out the day with a trip downtown to the Electronics Market. Apparently you can get a 1G memory card for your camera at only RMB 220 (depending on your bargaining skills - that's approx. USD30. I bought a 512MB one in KL for USD50). When we got there, we were greeted by over enthusiastic sales promoters in front of the building, with flyers, sandwich boards, placards and whatever marketing tools you can think of ready to get us to purchase something. It looked as though a demonstration was going on.
After 20 minutes of haggling over prices and being harassed by a middle-aged Chinese man (it's better to not understand the language sometimes), we left the building with my 1G memory card that I got for USD30. 5 days later, at the Oriental Plaza shopping mall in Wang Fu Jing, we saw the same SanDisk card for RMB1280. Two British ladies were about to make the purchase when we interrupted and told them to go to the Electronics Market. The sales lady wasn't too pleased with us.
Note: When the say 'market' (eg: Pearl Market, Silk Market, Electronics Market), they really mean an indoor complex, not a street market.
Tian'an Men Square (Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace)
We took the subway to Tian'an Men to avoid heavy traffic. Apparently this was a good day for family picnics at the Square. There were also thousands of mainland visitors from other provinces to share the heat with and too many hawkers trying to make a few yuan out of foreigners.
Tian'an Men - where Mao proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st 1949. That is one huge portrait.
Great Hall of the People - Seat of the Chinese Legislature
Okay, I have no idea who that is (sorry), Monument to the People's Heroes
The Forbidden City
Counting the space enclosed by four pillars as a "room", there are more than 9900 rooms in nearly 900 buildings. Tradition has it that there are altogether 9999.5 rooms in the Forbidden City, only half room less than the Heavenly Palace, which belongs to the Jade Emperor in heaven. So it is said that the Forbidden City is the largest palace in the world.
(http://www.china-travel-tour-guide.com/attractions/forbidden-city.shtml)
I've come all the way here to see that the Hall of Supreme Harmony is UNDER RENOVATION for the 2008 Olympics! (it's the largest hall in the palace; used for major occasions such as the enthronement of an emperor) Okay, so we did get to see the throne room, but still. Who wants to get all excited about a blue tarp-like screen and scaffolding?
...and STARBUCKS in business! WHAT IS STARBUCKS DOING IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY? We're not even talking about a snack area outside or near the entrance, it is actually IN the Forbidden City. Feel completely cheated from my cultural experience in China.
I met a Shanghainese who works in Finland on the plane. In front of us were two Australians. They were asking him for tips on travelling around Beijing and soon after the plane landed, they looked out the window and asked Bill, "So, is this just cloudy weather or pollution weather?"
Well...lets just say that we had 'pollution weather' all week. The photos are proof.
Was really looking forward to visiting the Imperial Gardens. 20 minutes after we'd started in that direction, I asked Lanna where this so-called garden is. She looked at me blankly and said, "We're standing IN it." It was so crowded, I couldn't recognize a thing I saw in pictures. Only bodies and heads. Everywhere. I vow to come back again in the winter when no one else would be here.
The Pavilion of A Thousand Autumns in the Imperial Gardens; ceiling decor; roof guardians; doorway
The picture on the right show's a concubine's room. There are between two to three thousand concubines in the Forbidden City.
Restroom sign that reads "Star-Rated Toilet"; door bar; walkway
Also visited the imperial clock collection exhibit which was pretty interesting.
Was quite disappointed with the trip here. It was just too crowded. We left at around 2:30pm, having only covered about 40% of the place. Here's an excuse to go back I guess!
Tip: Entrance ticket is RMB60. You can also get an audio guide featuring Roger Moore for a total of RMB100. I reckon it would take you at least half a day at the Forbidden City if you follow the audio guide, but am sure it would be worthwhile if you don't want to miss out on anything.
I realized that I would be spending the next five days in Xi'An and will not have time to do any souvenir shopping/antique hunting when I get back to Beijing. So, we rushed ourselves to Liulichang after Lanna insisted we visit the 5-star restroom at the Hyatt Hotel. I promise to explain the many referrals to toilets and restrooms in a later post.
Liulichang was really fun. It's located near the hutong area. It's a fabulous antique market, complete with century old architectures, specialty shops, gritty food shacks (which we were adventurous enough to try), etc. Great place for souvenir shopping.
Tip: you should not miss the hutong tour by rickshaw should you visit Beijing. It was the one thing I wish I had time for.
Tip: Be prepared to walk off before you start bargaining for something. Sometimes the prices the vendors quote can be up to 10 times of the actual value. Counter offer them 30% of the original asking price and see where it takes you. No one wants to be taken for a fool, and it makes you a little upset when you know they're all out to take foreigners for a ride. I tend to bargain until I get the price brought down to at least half or 40% of the original asking price. But I usually let loose after that and don't go any further. If you think about it, here we are spending thousands of dollars on vacation, and these people are only trying to make a living (I'm referring to street vendors, especially those in smaller cities like Xi'An). So, do your bargaining, but don't stress over it!
Main street; scary looking bar which neither of us had the urge to even peek into
Shops; someone's grandson whom I thought was rather cute
That's the food shack we ate in; fresh food vendors
Main street; candy seller
My flight leaves for Xi'An at 8:10am the next morning, which means we have to be up at 5 to get to the airport, and meet Ren and Wang Wei there at 7am.
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Bathroom post next. Promise.
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