Beijing Nov 2017

The 2 week trip in China is my annual year end vacation. No different from previous years, it is still last minute, ill planned since I had to move it 1 month earlier to accommodate my team’s leave schedule. I always thought that no matter how ill-prepared my vacations are, i can find ways to go through in any situation but China is no joke. Due to the government’s restrictions on many things especially no access to google, I am literally half disabled 😭

The first hiccup happened just after I got out of Beijing airport and rushed into the subway to the city. Of all the countries I have been to, China is the only country so far which requires belonging screenings in all subway stations. And my knife- the protection weapon was confiscated. I was upset not much because I didn’t have any protection but because it was a new knife i just bought recently to chop meats. The next problem was no access to Goggle so i had a hard time navigating around. Language barrier is for sure one of the biggest obstacles.

My first spot is a park called X near my hotel. It was a old style serene and greenery park where the locals do many activities. Old folks gather in pavilions dancing and singing patriot songs, Kids play recreational games, Couples do padde boats in the lakes. There is one thing which i find extremely amused and surprisingly people do that in all places where there are yellow leaves. They throwed yellow leaves to the air and took pictures. I just think it is so cheesy and dirty. The leaves were not clean at all. Anyway, i love the park for its serenity and tranquility. Kenen Ng’s instrumental music was played in the background. I sat on a bench, gazing at the xxx lake and practising mindful breathing, a perfect way to relax after the long flight.

The 2nd day, I moved to a new hotel which is near the center and the staff can speak some decent English. After checkin, i started exploring Being. I stayed in Bejing for 7 days so it was no rush. Public bicycles are so popular here so I took Mobike exploring around. I visited Temple of Heaven ( Tiantan park) and the Peal Market nearby. 

3rd day, I took a tour to the most worthy visited attraction of China- the Great world. The tour’s style is very similar to the Vietnam’s. They brought me to some markets and hard sold me. I quite like the tour in Melbourne that only took me to important attractions to save people’s time and energy. I visited the Great world from Mutianyu gate where i took a cable car to the top. It was so magnificent that I couldn’t find a word to describe how I was amazed gazing at 360 degree view. The weather was windy and sunny, making my hair disheveled. I spent 2 hours there walking to different gates, including some short breaks just sitting down and enjoying the breathtaking view. I took toboggan ride down and it was so fun, the chinese are so creative inventing this simple vehicle, cheap but interesting for tourists. After the Great world, the tourguide brought me to some traditional medicine center for 20 minute foot massage. I didn't enjoy it at all because they hurt my ears by telling me that I have blood clot issue and trying to sell medicine to me ?!?

Next day, I roamed around Tiennanmen square. I kept asking myself where the people are from, so crowded. I wanted to visit the Forbidden city but i got lost. I asked other foreign tourists and they told me they were lost too. Later I found out that president Trump was here so they closed this place ?! No announcement was made at all or maybe it was in mandrin. 

I returned to the Forbidden city the following morning and was very excited to get inside. It is a city in a city literally. It reminds me of all the scenes in the ancient chinese movies i have watched before.