Among the Hutongs                        Beijing Jottings                  05.05.2012

After 3 days, we are leaving Beijing.   The Hutongs (lanes) were so distinctive, but hard to take, with so many folks living in such small places, lack of air & health issues.  The Azure Winged Magpie is the fun character bird of our visit, not that we saw many others, though a few in cages.

The amazing part of our arrival was our taxi driver.  He found our Hostel without too much trouble, even though it was 1.30am, with ill-lit hutongs (lanes) & few people around to ask.  The hostel directions must have been good.

 Hutong Liu Li Chang has the music & art focus, with shops selling calligraphy brushes, paintings, making personal stamps, (so I got mine with “NG” in calligraphic script). The folks we met were just good to meet.  From the chop sellers, to the Hutong Family who sold postcards which we wanted for the grandchildren, the Rickshaw Men & the art teacher to be.

The Summer Palace so full of people now, unlike the days of long ago when only the few could enjoy the ambience.  

Although missing the whole-day marathon of the Great Wall, we found the City Wall built in 13^th Century, (11m high, & 14m wide at the top) just as interesting.  It overlooks the Beijing Railway Station, where the Trans-Siberian Express starts, which was an added attraction for Neil.  The pedestrian shopping mall of Wang Fu Jing dwarfs anything in London, or in any cities we know.

And to compensate for the warm weather, we found a local watering place, probably well known to many a foreign traveller : “Helen’s” - also known as “Inn 365”, is inscribed with many greetings from past residents, all over its walls & ceiling.  But it’s the people of Beijing that one remembers, whether in the prosperity of opening a new shop, or in daily chores.

One special moment was to enter a genuine Chinese Tea Shoppe & enjoy a refreshing drink of real green tea.  We could move on to Europe knowing that we had accomplished much & enjoyed meeting many good folk.