So, on Saturday, we began our day with a wonderful buffet breakfast at the hotel. We had one of these Friday morning, too, I just forgot to mention it. There were hot and cold selections - fruit, cereal, eggs, hash browns, bread, congee (hot rice cereal), steamed vegetables, dim sum (a Chinese favorite that I never did try...) and many, many other items. It was a wonderful meal every day.
Today was much colder than Friday had been and very damp, so the cold just soaked right through your coat. Brrrr! Our bus left at 9:30 that morning, and our first stop was The Great Hall of the People. This is China's equivalent of the Capitol Building. The representatives from all of their provinces have meetings here, and visiting dignitaries are greeted here. Each of China's 34 separate provinces/municipalities/regions has its own special gathering room, decorated in the style of that area. It was very nice to see this, as we learned about the government and history of China.
Today was much colder than Friday had been and very damp, so the cold just soaked right through your coat. Brrrr! Our bus left at 9:30 that morning, and our first stop was The Great Hall of the People. This is China's equivalent of the Capitol Building. The representatives from all of their provinces have meetings here, and visiting dignitaries are greeted here. Each of China's 34 separate provinces/municipalities/regions has its own special gathering room, decorated in the style of that area. It was very nice to see this, as we learned about the government and history of China.
After this, we went across the street and down the block to Tiananmen Square. Those of us old enough to remember (*ahem*) June 4, 1989 will recognize this name. But the Square is not only known for this dark day in Chinese history; it is also a place where people gather for all sorts of things - celebrations, speeches, etc. The Square is capable of accommodating almost a million people! (they would have to be standing shoulder to shoulder, I think) Mao Tse Tung's body is enshrined in a building here. We saw the building but we did not go inside. Our adoption agency representative told us that he was present for the memorial gathering after Chairman Mao's death, and the Square was absolutely packed with people. He was also in the area on June 4, 1989, though he was not actually at the Square.
Everywhere, at all the popular tourist spots, are vendors hocking their wares. These range anywhere from panda bear hats to Chinese flags to kites to picture postcards. And they are not shy about trying to sell you something! But thankfully they usually respected a "no, thank you".
Off one side of the Square is the entrance to The Forbidden City. This was where the Emperors used to reside. It was called "forbidden", because only those he chose were permitted inside. Amazingly, this entire complex was built in only 14 years! From 1406 to 1420. It covers a lot of area, and it has its own moat. We saw the much-replicated stone courtyard area where the movies always show the Imperial Guards going through their weapons exercises. It is a city within a city - there are countless "side streets" with small houses, where concubines and others lived. We finally found some hot tea and coffee at a small souvenir shop in the center of the City! We were so thankful to go inside and thaw out a bit!
Everywhere, at all the popular tourist spots, are vendors hocking their wares. These range anywhere from panda bear hats to Chinese flags to kites to picture postcards. And they are not shy about trying to sell you something! But thankfully they usually respected a "no, thank you".
Off one side of the Square is the entrance to The Forbidden City. This was where the Emperors used to reside. It was called "forbidden", because only those he chose were permitted inside. Amazingly, this entire complex was built in only 14 years! From 1406 to 1420. It covers a lot of area, and it has its own moat. We saw the much-replicated stone courtyard area where the movies always show the Imperial Guards going through their weapons exercises. It is a city within a city - there are countless "side streets" with small houses, where concubines and others lived. We finally found some hot tea and coffee at a small souvenir shop in the center of the City! We were so thankful to go inside and thaw out a bit!
After our walk through The Forbidden City, our bus took us to the famous Peking Duck restaurant. It seemed a bit odd, though. We went in through the lobby of a small hotel, almost like a back door. Supposedly, Presidents have eaten at The Peking Duck. The food was very good! And we tried Peking Duck. It's made by dipping some shredded duck meat in a very yummy "duck sauce", then placing it into a won ton shell and covering it with julienne onions (which were VERY potent, by the way! Whew!). Then you gather up the won ton to make a dumpling of sorts and pop it in your mouth. Yum!
One thing I do have to tell you... The Peking Duck restaurant was my first ever experience with what us Westerners affectionately call a "squat pot". Now, I've experienced the "slammers" in the back woods of Minnesota, and I've experienced various outhouses in various locations, and I've gone behind a group of bushes when the need arose, but I had never before used a squat pot. It's basically a toilet bowl in the floor, with treads on either side so you don't slip and fall in! I have to say that it was definitely an interesting and unique experience. I don't know how else to describe it!
After lunch, we stopped at a pearl shop, where we learned that a large clam can grow sometimes 30+ pearls inside it! Then we went on to a silk shop, where they showed us the process of harvesting the silk and making it into comforters and pillowcases and such. It was very interesting, and the comforters were amazing!
After this, we were whisked away to a Chinese acrobat show. It was very cool! (literally and figuratively) We were still cold from the day of walking, and the bus was not very warm, and now we were sitting in a cold theater. But the show was great! They did the stacking chairs routine, 10 girls riding on one bicycle, a guy who balanced on a moving board and flipped bowls up onto his head. They also had motorcycles inside a globe-like metal cage. They started with one driving around, halfway up the side, then they added another, and then another, and another... They ended up with SIX motorcycles going round and round inside this metal cage!!!! It was incredible!
On Sunday, we would all fly to our respective cities where we would pick up our children! We wouldn't see the other families in our group again until Friday night. So, after dinner, we repacked and got everything ready to leave around 9 the next morning.
To be continued...
One thing I do have to tell you... The Peking Duck restaurant was my first ever experience with what us Westerners affectionately call a "squat pot". Now, I've experienced the "slammers" in the back woods of Minnesota, and I've experienced various outhouses in various locations, and I've gone behind a group of bushes when the need arose, but I had never before used a squat pot. It's basically a toilet bowl in the floor, with treads on either side so you don't slip and fall in! I have to say that it was definitely an interesting and unique experience. I don't know how else to describe it!
After lunch, we stopped at a pearl shop, where we learned that a large clam can grow sometimes 30+ pearls inside it! Then we went on to a silk shop, where they showed us the process of harvesting the silk and making it into comforters and pillowcases and such. It was very interesting, and the comforters were amazing!
After this, we were whisked away to a Chinese acrobat show. It was very cool! (literally and figuratively) We were still cold from the day of walking, and the bus was not very warm, and now we were sitting in a cold theater. But the show was great! They did the stacking chairs routine, 10 girls riding on one bicycle, a guy who balanced on a moving board and flipped bowls up onto his head. They also had motorcycles inside a globe-like metal cage. They started with one driving around, halfway up the side, then they added another, and then another, and another... They ended up with SIX motorcycles going round and round inside this metal cage!!!! It was incredible!
On Sunday, we would all fly to our respective cities where we would pick up our children! We wouldn't see the other families in our group again until Friday night. So, after dinner, we repacked and got everything ready to leave around 9 the next morning.
To be continued...