Look out.. it’s the stairs
Beijing stairs in their metro system are notorious for their behaviour. So much so, there are signs warning you.
It’s pandaemonium!
What do you do on your last day in Beijing? Ideally you want to see something that you can’t see in the southern hemisphere…. and when in China it is Giant Pandas! Okay.. okay… I know the Adelaide Zoo is getting two very soon – but the question to be answered is “Are Giant Pandas as popular in China as they are likely to be in Adelaide?” After visiting the zoo, my guess is yes!
There were lots of people viewing the pandas… taking photos, and jostling for space. There were separate ticket prices on top of normal tickets just to see them! I hope the Adelaide Zoo doesn’t get any ideas. Once inside there were eight giant pandas, spread over a number of enclosures. Zoo’s aren’t always the most pleasant places, but I’m hoping the housing for ours will be better than we saw. We didn’t look at much else in the zoo… apart from the Australian animals section (another example of not much thought put into design or plants). They spend a lot of money on strange large concrete/wood objects that people stand in front of and have photos taken than the spaces for the animals.
I also attempted to purchase fridge magnets (stuffed panda seemed too much), but they don’t seem to be popular here, so I’m down on my quota so far.
Shopfront
Water Lilies at the Summer Palace
Water Lilies at the Summer Palace, originally uploaded by kdt.
The Summer Palace site is enormous and is best to use the many ferries to get around. We thought we’d be clever and take the boat from the Zoo to the Summer Palace. Not so sure it was a clever idea long waits and a boat change made it a slow way to get there and when we got there we had no idea where our boat had landed us and no signs in English. If there is a motto that has served us well, at least at major tourist sites, it is GO WITH THE CROWD. We did this time and we landed at small pier at which a small boat took about 20 or so passengers across to the South Island from there we followed the crowd over the 17 arches bridge and then we followed the crowd to the long corridor…. but then the crowd stopped. It stopped because the thunderstorm had started…. we need to keep moving so we could catch our overnight train so we did with our tiny umbrella’s up. It is amazing how upwardly flexible taxi prices are when the rain is falling!
Cafe Australia Style
Cafe Australia Style, originally uploaded by kdt.
A short review. Do not go! It is located adjacent to the Australian animal exhibit, but it doesn’t offer pie floaters or vegemite. It offers New York steak, german beer, and a few ordinary chinese dishes. The coffee we had, just to say that we had been, was alright.
No #1 Best Attraction at Olympic Park
No #1 Best Attraction at Olympic Park, originally uploaded by kdt.
You’d think it might be the Birds Nest or perhaps the Water Cube.. but for some young, and not so young, Chinese it is the foreigner! There were many groups from regional China who asked us in English if they could have their photograph taken with us. One photo turned into many as each member of the group asked us for a photo on there camera. We could have set up a stand and charged one yuan, but that wouldn’t be consistent with the olympic spirit, would it?
If you are reading this blog and recognise yourself in this photo, or these other ones on Flickr, leave us a comment on this post.
Dawn – raising of the flag
This morning we got up early.. 4am… to go and watch the flag being raised – along with the other 1000’s of Chinese tourists . According to the web site this was going to occur at 5:17am. The crowd of people watching this take place this morning was incredible.
We arrived around 4:50 and there was already a large number of people, approimately 6 people deep to the front of the rope line across the square. Just before it begins there is a brief announcement, and then music plays until the flag is raised. It is over quickly.
Then the usual photograph sellers magically appear touting for business, and the guards walk off leaving the tourists to rush closure to the flag for their photographs, while we walked back to the train station. Tired but satisfied in seeing the event occur.
Water cube
Both the Birds Nest and the Water Cube are amazing buildings. By day and night.
At night, there are 100’s of Chinese people just hanging around taking photos, flying kites (yes kites), and roller blading. Lets also not forget the large number of people selling fake souvenirs right outside the official store, with guards looking on. The Olympic area is certainly a great place to be – unless you are hungry and your food choices are limited. Unfortunately we weren’t as prepared as the rest of the tourists who brought their own food. But we did take some great photos.
Smiling grass
I really love signs in China.
Line dancing in Temple of Heaven
Line dancing in Temple of Heaven
We visited the Temple of Heaven, and the park was filled with 1000’s of people – and these weren’t the ones visiting the culturally significant site!
Parks in China are used for many things, singing, exercising, ribbon twirling, band practice, and line dancing. The number of people participating in a wide range of uncoordinated, and unadvertised events was truly amazing. People here are organised… and they don’t appear to need much assistance from anyone!
