Soong Ching Ling's home
A pyromaniac's dream
Teas, teas, teas
View from the Drum Tower
Temple of Heaven
Michael leading the way
By the fourth day, we were finally ready to venture out on our own. We had the morning to ourselves and my guide book had a suggested walking tour of the Hutongs, so a plan was set. The Hutongs, as they are known, are the small alleys and lanes leading to a jumble of simple homes which used to proliferate most of Beijing. But sadly, progress always has a price and in the story of Beijing, it is the hutongs that have paid the most dearly. Swath by large swath, they are being eradicated to make way for high rises and Olympic stadiums. The area near the Drum Tower, which is where we went, has become quite popular with tourists looking for a glimpse into the days of Old Beijing, so it appears to be safe from imminent destruction, although, it may now face a similarly disappointing fate. On one of the main intersections, there now sits a Starbucks. But in spite of that, to repeat an oft-stated lament, I wish we would have had more time there. It had the most "soul" of anyplace we visited in China. Had I all to do over again, the entire trip, this is the place where I would want to devote the most time. I would love to take a day and just spend hours following narrow lanes and narrower lanes to see exactly where they lead. But our schedule being as tight as it was, we did not have such a luxury. We had to run to meet Michael and the rest of the group for a visit to the Temple of Heaven, which is where the Emperors would go to pray for a bountiful harvest. Considering China was mainly an agrarian nation, this was no small task. The wooden structure, built without the benefit of any nails whatsoever, is considered to be one of the greatest examples of Chinese architecture and is commonly used as the symbol of Beijing. We got to spend some time enjoying the Temple and the park that surrounds it, before we were whisked off. It was time to head to the airport for our flight to Xian, where the warriors awaited our arrival....
Written by 2Machupicchu
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