I get a kick just writing that 'I am in Beijing'. First impressions: it's big, busy and greener that I imagined. Our guide tells me that they have been planting lots of trees to counteract the sandstorms from the Gobi desert. Beijing has a population of 19.6 million, compared to about 8 million for Greater London, so if you imagine the streets of London packed out with nearly 2 and a half times more people, you begin to get something of the crowded feeling. Our first hotel is a gem in the Hutong district, not really part of the tourist area but oozing the charms of old China. The streets are so narrow that our driver only just manages to get the minibus to the hotel doors, and it's easy to see that real life is going on around us. Open front doors (like we used to have in the olden days), allow us to peak into the tiny homes. Washing, bikes, and all sorts of personal possessions are piled high in the road, like virtual sheds. Much of the people's lives are played out in the streets.
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| The Hutongs, Beijing (Ian's photo) |
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| Our Hotel |
Our small hotel (20 bedrooms I'd guess), strangely called the Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel, manages to mix the traditional with modern, up-market design. The décor is magazine standard, the air-con and luxurious walk-in shower a welcome indulgence, the shadow art puppet show a delightful accompaniment to our stay.
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| Backstage puppetry for the children |
Day 1 is an excursion to the Summer Palace, which used to be the official summer retreat for the imperial families. The 700 metre long corridor is effectively a prom along the lakeside and the ride on a dragon boat on Lake Kunming is a welcome relax in the breeze. It is a promising start to our holiday and submerges us immediately in the hot hustle of life in China. There are hoards of people, but very few Westerners and we are amused to find the we are the novelty. Ian, being over 6 foot and head and shoulders above the local population, is asked to pose in Chinese family photos!
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| The 700 metre corridor is no longer a peaceful retreat! |
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| Wonderfully Chinese! Just what the tourist doctor ordered |
There is no restaurant at our hotel and by evening we are completely dead beat and our taste for adventure has temporarily vanished. The hotel offers to order a take-away - result! Despite the staff's good English we can't quite communicate what we want and so the meal is a complete surprise, but tasty and £5 for all 4 of us! Then we blow £20 on a bottle of wine...............
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