Beijing, China

We had been to Beijing before and had seen the major tourist attractions. But. one Saturday, we decided to join ten thousand Chinese and foreign tourists at the Forbidden City and Tiananman Square.

The entrance to the Forbidden City is lovely but nowhere near the grandeur inside the city itself.

Here is a foreign tourist who has just realized how many people "ten thousand people"  are who then opted to stay on the outside of the attractions.

Like all communist capital cities, Beijing had a huge square where parades and power displays could take place. But unlike other countries, the square was constructed in the mid 1600's and later, 1950, expanded to be used for government events.

We walked the streets of an old type neighborhood known as a hutong. The area has narrow streets and lanes where people have lived for centuries.

The entrance to the neighborhood.

The rickshaw was a popular way to get around town.  Many were used by the tourists but we noticed the local folks using them also.

In the middle of this particular hutong was a lake with paddle boats.

My favorite sign : no cars, no motorbikes, no rickshaws.  Unfortunately, it was only for one street leaving the rest of the streets open to crazy motorbike riders, in a hurry rickshaw drivers and cars too big for the street.

Home away from home : our favorite hotel.

The Marriott Hotel

In addition to famous markets -the Pearl Market and the Silk Market is this one where you can buy pearls, silks, watches, clothes at reduced prices.  Usually, the merchant starts off high and the tourist offers half that price which they readily take.   Medi would offer 10 % and start to walk away.   A shop owners, putting our purchase in the bag,  told me "Your wife is an excellent bargainer but she breaks my heart with her small offer."

A hotel guest and heart breaker returns to the  hotel,  satisfied with her travels and her shopping.