Beijing Continued

During our last two days in Beijing we visited the Olympic Centre, the Summer Palace and Jingshan Park (which overlooks the Forbidden City).

Grounds outside the Bird Cage and Water Cube

The Olympic Centre is larger than life, occupying hectares and hectares of land in a reasonably central part of Beijing (it’s readily accessible by subway or bus from central Beijing, for a commute of less than 30 mins).  It isn’t just the Bird Cage and Water Cube occupying the space, but massive areas for gatherings, entire press buildings, conference venues and multiple lane highways all of which were roped off and apparently unused on the date of our visit.  Of course the actual buildings themselves are highly impressive - even more so up close and the area had a very positive vibe to it.  

The Summer Palace and View from the Top

The Summer Palace is where the Emporer, Empress, Eunuchs and Concubines would spend their summer vacations, travelling upstream from the Forbidden City.  On the fringe of Beijing, the Summer Palace is on the edge of a lake (shaped like a peach to represent longevity) and positioned up a hill with fantastic panoramic vistas from the top.  Again, the area is incredible to behold, with beautifully tended grounds, and massive and highly impressive historic buildings.  Everything was in impeccable condition with a full restoration project having been completed for the Beijing Olympics.

Jen and our guide in Beijing, Tina

Jen and I with the Summer Palace in the Background

The world's longest painted walkway (~700 metres long - every beam on every surface is painted)

Chinese Gentlemen writing Script on the Pavement in Water.  He wrote New Zealand for us

View of Forbidden City from the top of Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park is at the Northern End of the Forbidden City.  Supposedly (?) it is the hill that was created from the dirt excavated from the moat that was dug around the Forbidden City.  Being very centrally located Jingshan Park offered a great view of all of Beijing, especially the Forbidden City, from the highest point in the central city.

Dancing with Swords in Jingshan Park

Spring Blossoms

Donghuaman Night Market

We also had the opportunity to partake in two unique and fun dining experiences.  One night we enjoyed hotpot - an interactive dining experience where you cook your own food in a boiling hot pot of broth heated by an open flame at your table.  On the final night in Beijing, we swung past the Donghuaman Night Market to try our luck.  This market, on the side of the road, offers everything from traditional dumplings to the more exotic including seahorses, snakes and larvae.  Given our early start the next day we decided to play it safe with some dumplings, meat cakes, fried banana cream balls and toffee coated strawberries (think toffee apples) - yum!  And Mum, it’s still fruit right?

Fresh Snake...

Toffee Coated Strawberries - tasted just as good as it looks!