{"id":2526,"date":"2016-07-07T20:58:10","date_gmt":"2016-07-07T20:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doingwhatmatters.com\/?p=2526"},"modified":"2017-01-09T16:53:06","modified_gmt":"2017-01-09T16:53:06","slug":"the-china-visit-part-2-beijing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/the-china-visit-part-2-beijing\/","title":{"rendered":"The China Visit: Part 2\u2014Beijing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Scorpions<\/a><\/p>\n

We had only three days in Beijing, but like Chengdu, it was a living kaleidoscope of sights, scents, and sounds. On every corner it seemed there was something out of the ordinary \u2014 dozens of red lanterns, exotic street food (scorpions on a stick!), strangers dancing in a park. Here are a few photos from around Beijing. As in the previous post<\/a>, I’m not providing a complete sightseeing guide \u2014 just a few snapshots of scenes that caught my eye. I’ve linked the locations to more information if you are interested.<\/p>\n

Our first day in Beijing was spent exploring a section of the Great Wall of China<\/a>. Thanks to the hospitality of Melissa, one of the homeschooling moms there, we were able to borrow her driver to go the less crowded Mutianyu segment.\u00a0We took a ski lift up to the Wall, then walked along it\u00a0far enough to visit two of the guard towers. It was a hot day, but stepping inside the thick stone walled towers was like stepping into an air-conditioned room.\u00a0The wall climbs up and down through mountains and valleys as far as the eye can see. It’s a massive, astonishing feat of construction.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

After the Wall, we settled into Hotel Kapok<\/a>, which was conveniently situated just down the street from the Forbidden City<\/a> and within walking distance of decent dining and shopping options. It was still light when we were settled, so we walked over to Tiananmen Square<\/a> to watch the flag lowering ceremony.\u00a0A squad of soldiers marched to the flag, and precisely at the moment of sunset, lowered it ceremoniously, then marched away. A lot of people were there to watch, but there were a lot of police and soldiers too. They cleared the square and shooed everyone away within minutes of the ceremony’s completion. For me, it was a not-so-subtle reminder of the sad history of the square.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Tiananmen<\/a><\/p>\n

On the second day of of our Beijing visit, we went to the Temple of Heaven<\/a>. The Temple is positioned in a large park filled with people dancing, playing music or games, and socializing. It was a lively, cheerful scene.<\/p>\n

\"Dancing<\/a><\/p>\n

People sat all along the covered pathways doing simple things such as crocheting, playing cards, folding paper giraffes, and more.<\/p>\n

\"Crocheting<\/a><\/p>\n

Hudson adds a bit of challenge for\u00a0one of the gentlemen who was enjoying the exercise equipment in the park. It was a full-blown playground with adult-size equipment, and quite a few people were actively using it.<\/p>\n

\"Hudson<\/a><\/p>\n

We finally reached the Temple of Heaven<\/a>. It was tall and blue\u00a0and\u00a0beautiful, and its setting in the busy park kept it from seeming like a long-dead artifact, though it is no longer used as a place of worship. Every visible inch of the building was detailed and ornamented, and despite the crowds, it was immaculate.<\/p>\n

\"Temple<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

In several parks, we saw calligraphers writing poetry on the sidewalk using a large brush and water. They worked seriously and\u00a0carefully, even though their work was evaporating behind them.
\n\"We<\/a><\/p>\n

At night, the streets remained busy and well lighted, at least in the tourist areas, so it feels quite safe. One\u00a0odd thing is that everywhere we went people were\u00a0constantly snapping photos of us.\u00a0Some tried to be discreet, while others came up next to us, and asked if they could take a selfie or\u00a0have a friend take a photo with one or both of us. It made me thankful to be mostly anonymous in my real life!<\/p>\n

\"Street<\/a><\/p>\n

I went to the Forbidden City<\/a> on the third day, and it was so crowded that I wasn’t able to get many photos other than roof shots. Fortunately, one\u00a0of the most interesting features of the buildings within the Forbidden City compound was the roof ornaments. I’m sure they have very specific meanings, but I wasn’t able to get close enough to read any signs.<\/p>\n

\"Roof<\/a><\/p>\n

I went shopping on the last couple of afternoons, making it to Liulichang Street<\/a>, the Panjiayuan<\/a> flea market and the Hongqiao Pearl Market<\/a>. There is a lot of duplication of items in the stalls\/shops in the last two\u00a0places, but the vendors are eager to bargain. Many at the flea market don’t speak English, but will type a number on a calculator and show it to you if you want to know a price. From that point, it’s up to you to counter with something much less, then haggle until you reach an acceptable compromise. Most vendors at the pearl market spoke at least a bit of English.<\/p>\n

Liulichang seemed to specialize in calligraphy and related items, Panjiayuan had tons of jade and amber, and the pearl market had everything from silks to electronics, and even pearls. I went to all these places alone, as Terri and Hudson had other things to do, and I felt safe and comfortable the whole time, and had no difficulty in catching\u00a0transportation in a san lun che to get between the places.<\/p>\n

\"Calligraphy<\/a><\/p>\n

I saw this kitty in several places, and I’m guessing it has something to do with good fortune. Most of these figures have one arm waving up and down, which seems a bit distracting.<\/p>\n

\"Fortune<\/a><\/p>\n

We passed many street food offerings, and I tried hawthorn on a stick and yogurt with a straw and a mini-watermelon with a spoon, but I drew the line at scorpions on a stick. No thank you. And the sea creatures were just sad.<\/p>\n

\"Scorpions,<\/a><\/p>\n

These two posts barely scratch the surface of the trip. I hope you’ve enjoyed the virtual journey.<\/p>\n

A few last thoughts<\/h3>\n

It was fun to have a friend to explore with (thank you, Terri!), especially one who\u00a0speaks Chinese. Even if you don’t have a Chinese-speaking friend, both Chengdu<\/a> and Beijing were\u00a0pretty navigable. Many signs are in English, and with the small shops and restaurants\u00a0opening right onto the sidewalk, it was fairly easy to figure out where to find\u00a0just about anything.<\/p>\n

Since our hotel<\/a> was in the middle of a lively area, we were able to see a lot just by walking a few blocks in either direction, and we saved a lot on taxis and other transport. I almost always prefer to stay in the heart of town and walk. It’s easier to get a sense of place and quickly become oriented. Even when a hotel in suburbs seems cheaper, you tend to spend the difference on transportation, and\u00a0you can’t just pop out and walk down the street for a night snack or a bit of nocturnal sightseeing.<\/p>\n

China was interesting. The almost complete absence of churches and\u00a0faith symbols was something I wouldn’t want to live with. Would I go\u00a0again? Probably. Just not anytime soon. I’m ready to spend some quality time at home.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Join<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We had only three days in Beijing, but like Chengdu, it was a living kaleidoscope of sights, scents, and sounds. On every corner it seemed there was something out of the ordinary \u2014 dozens of red lanterns, exotic street 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If you're not a year-round schooler, you're probably thinking of starting soon. Many of our bloggers are too, but a few are thinking differently. I hope you enjoy traveling through the landscape of ideas and inspiration you'll find here! Enjoy! ***** Homeschooling is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home School"","block_context":{"text":"Home School","link":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/category\/homeschool\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Carnival of Homeschooling","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i289.photobucket.com\/albums\/ll227\/hcate3\/WhateverImageA.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1877,"url":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/charlotte-mason-was-right-education-is-an-atmosphere\/","url_meta":{"origin":2526,"position":2},"title":"Charlotte Mason was Right! Education is an Atmosphere","author":"Janice Campbell","date":"April 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Charlotte Mason said that \"Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life,\" and she was right. A study published in 2010 on \"Family Scholarly Culture and Educational Success\" (PDF), reports that a family's \"scholarly culture \u2013 the way of life in homes where books are numerous, esteemed, read, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books and Reading"","block_context":{"text":"Books and Reading","link":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Education is an atmosphere;, illustrated by a Mary Cassatt image.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Education-is-an-atmosphere..jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Education-is-an-atmosphere..jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Education-is-an-atmosphere..jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1324,"url":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/college-alternatives-part-1-skilled-trades\/","url_meta":{"origin":2526,"position":3},"title":"College Alternatives, Part 1: Skilled Trades","author":"Janice Campbell","date":"February 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"After the last two posts on financial aid, there were a few private comments about how hard it can be for a student to qualify for some types of aid.\u00a0Honestly, it is easier now than it has ever been. There are all sorts of programs, initiatives, and projects, all designed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "High School, College, and Alternatives"","block_context":{"text":"High School, College, and Alternatives","link":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/category\/high-school\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The skilled trades are an excellent college alternative.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/college-alternatives.jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/college-alternatives.jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/college-alternatives.jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1871,"url":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/poems-for-spring-by-gerard-manley-hopkins-and-amy-lowell\/","url_meta":{"origin":2526,"position":4},"title":"Poems for Spring by Gerard Manley Hopkins and Amy Lowell","author":"Janice Campbell","date":"April 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are two spring poems by two of my favorite poets: Spring by Gerard Manley Hopkins and Lilacs by Amy Lowell. Both are suitable for copywork and recitation. Enjoy!","rel":"","context":"In "Books and Reading"","block_context":{"text":"Books and Reading","link":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/spring-vertical-IMG_0449-sm-225x300.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2027,"url":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/tidying-maps-and-a-mighty-mug-review-and-giveaway\/","url_meta":{"origin":2526,"position":5},"title":"Ideas Worth Sharing: Tidying, Maps, and a Mighty Mug Review and Giveaway \u2014 IWS #3","author":"Janice Campbell","date":"September 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"It has been awhile since the last\u00a0Ideas Worth Sharing (IWS) gathering post. Here are a few things I've enjoyed\u00a0over the past few weeks. But first, let me give you the link to the Mighty Mug giveaway \u2014 I've had a ridiculous amount of fun testing it, and the company was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ideas Worth Sharing"","block_context":{"text":"Ideas Worth Sharing","link":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/category\/inspiration\/ideas-worth-sharing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Mighty Mug reviewed: The mug that won't tip over.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mighty-mug-drawing-table.jpg?fit=600%2C605&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mighty-mug-drawing-table.jpg?fit=600%2C605&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mighty-mug-drawing-table.jpg?fit=600%2C605&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p65lfN-EK","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}