A few weeks ago, we all went to Beijing and then on to Xi'an. We took the high speed train from Shanghai to Beijing. It took just under 5 hours to make the 800+ mile journey. Here we are at the nice large Hongquio train station in Shanghai waiting for our train.
Getting ready to board the train.
Girls settled in and watching a movie on the iPad.
The actual high speed train route from Shanghai to Beijing was unvailed this past summer and averaged around 350 km/hr. However, since an accident in the late summer, they have scaled back and the highest we saw was ~308 km/hr.
The next morning, we started the trip off by going to Tiananamen Square. The gate into the Forbidden City is behind us.
This is one of the several very large govermental buildings that surroud the Square.
The gate into the Forbidden City.
Inside the Forbidden City. In case you don't know why it is called the Forbidden CIty...back in the time of the emporers, it was highly illegal for common people to enter the city gates. If you were found traspassing, it was certain death. Only officials and people that worked for the emporer were invited in.
The girls enjoyed running around the buildings and up and down all the ramps/stairs/etc. We were lucky that it was not too busy on the day we visited. We were told that it will get very busy on weekends especially during holidays and summer time.
Part of the gardens in the City where the emporers liked to spend free time walking around.
A river right outside the city.
On to the more "common folk" living. We explored Beijing's Hutongs by rickshaw....a cart attached to a bicycle.
After our tour of the Hutong areas, we posed for a picture before going on to our next stop.
We then visited the Temple of Heaven. This is the location that the emporers would go to twice a year to pray to the gods to insure a good harvest for the entire nation.
There were local people in this area doing excersices or visiting with friends. We saw several people playing and enjoying musical instruments.
This is one of our favorite instruments that we often see in China. It is a string instrument and somewhat close to the vilion like the girls play...however, it sits on the knee and only has 2 strings.
After the long walk, we got to the temple...it was very cool in that it was round.
On the way to where the sacrafices are burned for the good harvest. Very large place...
Going out of the Temple of Heaven we saw all of these Chinese men practicing their calagraphy. They used large brushes and water. It was neat to see as the water evaporated into the air and they disapeared.
That night we went to a Kung Fu show. It was awsome...the girls really enjoyed it. This is the building that houses the show.
And to end the very long day, we went out for a Peking Duck Banquet. When in Peking...have to try the Peking Duck. It was really good...the girls really liked it as well.
The chef cutting up our duck...
Not only did we have Peking Duck, but lots of other things to try...it was a huge banquet!
The next day, we had the Great Wall on the agenda. On the way, we deceided to stop at a Copper Factory. It was very cool to see how the copper plates, vases, etc. are all made. Below we saw how the layers of enamal are painted on the pieces. The worker allowed the girls to give it a try.
And here is where the thousands of coper pieces are glued onto the vase to make the design.
After the copper factory, we went on to the Sacred Road. This is a path lined with stone statues of animals, mystical beasts and officials who serve the emperor in his afterlife, through which the sitting emperors would go to perform memorial rituals for the ancestors once a year. It was very quiet and peaceful place and we all enjoyed it.
And finally at the Great Wall. There are several places to visit the Great Wall around Beijing. We went to the Mutianyu section. Here Claire is at the bottom before boarding the cable car.
The Great Wall is China's most famous symbols and one of the world's most remarkable architectural wonders. Some parts of it were built over 2,000 years ago and stretch about 6,700 km.
On the cable cars headed up to the wall...
On the wall...and already tired.
In one of the many watch towers spread along the wall.
One of the interestign things about the wall is that there are all kinds of patchways along the interior of the wall. Our guide told us that they did this on purpose to slow down the enemy. For exmple, stairs with different rises/runs or ramps with odd bricks like the one behind Claire.
And finally, we got to take the long slide all the way down to the bottom.
And we were greated by some mean looking guards at the bottom....who of course wanted all of our money.
Our last day in Beijing, we visited the Summer Palace and the Beijing Zoo. At the Zoo, we got to see a lot of large and baby Panda's.
We then went to the Summer Palace. This was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. It is thought to be the most splendid classical garden in China.
This was where the "Dragon Woman" spent much of her time. She was the mother of one of the youngest emperiors (I believe he was 4 when he was made emperior).
And after our trip to the summer palace, we were given the chance to have some Chinese or McD's for lunch. The kids won out and we had Mc. D's.
And finally at the airport, waiting for our plane to Xi'an. You will have to wait to hear about those advantures next time...
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