I spent this past weekend in Beijing. On Friday after work, Meaghan, Bridget and I got a ride to the Shanghai train station with our unofficial teacher taxi driver, Song. He's awesome! He speaks really great English, most of which he's learned from driving staff around Luxu and Shanghai.
Heading to Hongquaio Railway Station with Song
We took a 5 hour high speed train up to Beijing. It's top speed was 306km per hour. Really neat experience and I would happily do it again. The only thing I would change is to always sit beside a Westerners...much different experience to sitting beside an Asian; personal space doesn't exist with the latter.
On Friday night we got to our hotel (one of nicest I've ever stayed in!) and met up with Meaghan's parents, who had arrived the night before. We went for a late dinner and got back around midnight.
We departed at 7am on a private tour....headed for the Great Wall. Our tour guide, Jessie, want incredible. It was a 1.5hours drive to the part of the wall we started at, so she spent most of that time giving up the history of Beijing, the 3 dynasties and the Wall itself.
Experiencing the wall was incredible, and I'm happy to share details when I'm home. I would definitely recommend this to everyone. We had a clear, blue sky day. Free from visible smog, wind and clouds. We really lucked out. Jessie got our timing just right, as there was hardly anyone on the wall with us until we were heading back.
Looking out over the Chinese side (the other side is Mongolia)
On the wall with Bridget and Meaghan (and our much needed coffee)
Watch your step! Steep, steep stairs!
Seriously, watch your step!
Hello from the Great Wall of China!
Beautiful views!
Awesome photo taken by our tour guide, Jessie
This was our way down from the wall...I felt like I was 12!
After the wall, we drove another hour back to the Summer Palace. An emperor had commissioned it as a 60th birthday present for his mother. It took 15 years to finish, complete with a man dug lake. It was hard to see the vastness of the lake and imagine men with shovels, digging it out. It was insanely busy at this place though...I entered my happy place about 15min into our tour (also with Jessie).
Beautiful and worth the visit! (That is the man made lake...hand dug, using only shovels...incredible)
SO.MANY.PEOPLE.
Jessie dropped us off back at our hotel, mid afternoon. We had a few hours to relax before we headed for a walk. Meaghan and Bridget took us down "snack street"; a tourist hot spot with any type of small creature on a stick that you could think about. I entered my happy place about 30 seconds into this....experience.
Heading down "snack street" Scorpian on a stick anyone?
We had a drink afterwards with Meaghan's dad and then headed on a bit of an adventure to a local brew pub, Great Leap Brewing. It felt....very homey!
On Sunday, we went for breakfast, and then to the Pearl Market (commonly referred to as the fake market). Again, quite an experience that I am happy to share more about later. Sunday night, we got tickets to go see an Acrobatic show. It was about an hour long and very impressive. On our cab ride back to the hotel, who should we meet, but this crew from Chatsworth, Ontario. Strange hearing your name being called from another taxi in Beijing.
Meaghan and her parents racing us back to the hotel
All in all, a great weekend. I don't think that I will be rushing back to Beijing, but I was happy to have experienced it. I was also happy to be given treats from home that Meaghan's parents brought over. Felt like a big hug from home for sure. Thanks mama!
The Surge
Definitely feeling a bit of home sickness this past week. Having exchanged a few messages with my sister, it's all been sorted. :) thanks sista!
Much love xo
