Hello China!

Beijing 2016

Here we are arriving in China at Guangzhou (pronounced "gwan" - like swan - "jo") Airport.  This city used to be called Canton and is about 120 kms inland from Hong Kong.

The airport is absolutely HUGE!  Planes come through here from everywhere - last year this was a stopover for Anne on her way to Holland.

We changed here for our domestic flight to Beijing and, on our return, reversed the process by changing from our domestic flight from Xian (pronounced "she -arn") to our international flight home.

On both occasions we were met on the tarmac by a fleet of buses and driven a couple of kilometres to the airport buildings where we transferred to electric trolley cars which delivered us to Customs.  These trolleys drove through tunnels in the roof where we could look through the glass walls and see people below in the shopping arcades and corridors of the terminal.

After security checks we made another marathon journey to the Domestic Terminal and had a 3 hour wait for our flight.   When we were all on board and taxied out a short way, the heavens opened with lightning, thunder and torrential rain.   For safety reasons our flight was delayed for a few hours. 

On arrival in Beijing, we were transferred by coach to our hotel - the Chun Hui Yuan Warm Springs Resort.  The complex covered several acres with large hotels, small units, gardens and hot springs.  

During our stay a wedding was held on the lawn and the bridal party used a unit here to prepare.....

 

 A lobby in one of the buildings with a backdrop of bamboo..............

Bev, in the same lobby, at a huge desk carved from a single piece of wood.
 

Our room opened on to an enclosed balcony with a tub which we could fill with hot spa water.   We did not use it - but some complained that the water was so hot it took till midnight to be cool enough to get in!!

Each morning we had a buffet breakfast which catered for both Western & Chinese guests.

The overwhelming number of guests were Chinese families on their summer holidays.

The Chinese staff were friendly and helpful but none spoke English which made it very difficult..... one night it took 20 minutes with lots of gestures and diagrams to convey the message that we wanted to organise an early morning wake-up call.  When the young man finally understood, he typed his reply into his mobile phone which translated it into English and showed us the screen!   Bingo!!

(Note:   Click on any photograph to enlarge it)

Beijing

Beijing 2016

The next morning we caught a taxi into Beijing with Dennis - one of the members of our tour group who had to make the trip to China on his own after his traveling companion was diagnosed with a serious illness.  We took him under our wing and, being an actor, he proved to be great fun!  During our trip we shared taxis and a guide with Dennis.

Beijing had some spectacular architecture - the Soho building above seems to defy all the rules.   Unfortunately, the pollution leaves a grey, dull pall over the city which is psychologically "depressing". 

On our way into the city I took this photo from the taxi of the CCTV Building (China Central Television).

Dennis and Anne at our destination - the Silk Street Market - a multi-storied building full of shops (where haggling is an art form!) and a food court on the top floor where we had Peking Duck for lunch!

This charming old lady deftly worked her way around the food court and secured herself a lovely lunch - including some of ours!

Freshly made dumplings and frozen yogurt in all flavours and shapes!

Dennis hamming it up with a "Do Not Blow Your Horn" sign

(In the chaotic traffic drivers are honking their horns constantly.  We saw this sign at the entrance to many hotels, hospitals and embassies to remind drivers to be quiet.)

After lunch we flagged down a taxi to take us into the centre of the city.   Anne tried to sit in the front but the taxi driver barred the way and she had to sit in the back with us.  None of us noticed that the door handles in the back had been removed.   When we arrived at our destination, Anne tried to jump out while I paid.  The driver was demanding money and Anne was suddenly alarmed that we were being held to ransom.  I had cash in my hand but the driver was getting more agitated!

Dennis then gathered all his acting skills and proved the hero:   in a very loud and authoritative voice he demanded that the Police be called:  "Call the Police!  I want the Police here now!"  It immediately did the trick - the driver couldn't hand Anne the door handle quick enough, I handed him the money and we were out of there!!

And what does one do after a nerve wracking experience like that?  You eat dessert and lots of cream!!

We stumbled on a dessert cafe, called Dear Deer, which was right up our alley.  Anne and I both had a Snow Bing - lovely shaved ice (condensed milk?) with a texture a bit like dessicated coconut.  Mine was cheesecake so the ice was covered in cheesecake topping, cheesecake slices, icecream, whipped cream and other goodies.   Anne's was Red Bean.  We forced ourselves to eat it and, afterwards, we did feel a bit better about the taxi driver!!

 

Across the road we discovered this bakery.  The bread was impressive but the cakes were the most beautifully decorated I've ever seen.

In China the law is that vehicles must give way to people on pedestrian crossings but, in actual fact, you take your life in your hands crossing the street.  Here is a photo of three cars parked on two pedestrian crossings - two of the cars have no drivers! It was not much consolation when our guide, Vivie, told us we were probably safe on the crossings as it is considered a great shame to cause the death of a Westerner!

 In the city traffic we saw whole families - Mum, Dad and the children - on one scooter and never saw anyone wearing a helmet!  At night, many scooters and small vehicles weaved their way around the traffic with no lights! 

The Great Wall

 Beijing 2016

 Anne & Bev - on the Wall at last!

(click on any picture to enlarge)

Today is our great adventure to the Great Wall at Mutianyu.  There are other parts of the Wall accessible from Beijing but Mutianyu is less crowded, better restored and has magnificent scenery.

Some of the benefits of a private guide are no queuing for tickets and closer access.  Vivie, our guide, was allowed to park higher up the mountain than the buses and cars but from here we had to walk to the chairlift.  There was also the choice of a cable car and a toboggan ride down!

Following Vivie on the chair lift.

Several times we crossed the toboggan run as it weaved its way 5,000 metres down the mountain.  (Michelle Obama and her daughters took this ride in 2014.)

The chair lift took us right to the Wall!

On the Wall the views are magnificent!  Although we're only 80 kms from Beijing the pollution creates a dull haze. 

 What a challenge it must have been to build the wall on the steep mountain passes and transport the supplies for an army of guards!

A guard post and barracks on the wall and inside..........

          

                                             

 

Local farmers have planted fruit trees - including chestnuts, figs and apricots - along the sides of the wall.  

In times of invasion or an emergency, messages were sent to other guard posts by semaphore or flags.  On the top of one of the towers was this stone cavity for a flagpole.  Platforms stacked with wood were also placed away from the wall and lit to raise the alarm.  

Along the short length of the wall we walked there were two staircases to the outside - both on the "inner" or Beijing side. 

Today there are WiFi aerials and discreet security cameras on the wall.

Vivie said this was the only time in 12 years that someone had provided her with morning tea! 

The Great Wall at Mutianyu is a 2 1/2 kms walk with 23 watchtowers about 100 metres apart.  It has some defences rarely seen on other parts of the wall, including crenelations on both sides of the parapats; and a very rare  three towered post the Zhengguan Tai (see centre bottom) to guard the Mutianyu Pass.

The tower on the top of the hill is as far as visitors are allowed to go.  After that the wall veers off in two different directions and the wall is quite deteriorated and dangerous. 

 Anne & Vivie heading towards the exit gate (with red Chinese flag).  Down the stairs with the green roof is a cafe and souvenir shop and, beyond, the cable car station.

Near the gate is a couple with a yellow flag.  As they came closer, I asked them where they were from and, in perfect English they replied: "Equador!"  They were a young husband and wife who live and work in London.

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Our wonderful guide and driver, Vivie Pan, who took us on a magical journey to the Great Wall, the rural countryside and the Ming Tombs.   She was professional, friendly, well-informed and gracious - she made this day forever memorable.

We highly recommend her as a Beijing guide - www.beijingvivietours.com

Also check her out - Vivie Pan - on Trip Advisor

Lunch with Vivie

Beijing 2016

After our morning on the Wall we were ready to go down for lunch.  Here's our view as we approach  the Mutianyu Wall complex.  There are restaurants here - including a Subway - but our guide, Vivie, has something better in mind!

No sooner had we stepped off the chairlift than we are accosted by two loud and threatening warriors wielding swords!!  We were terrified!  Anne begged for her life!   (They were actually two 75-year-old local farmers making some extra pocket money posing for pictures.  We all had the time of our life!)

We drove down the mountain through forests

    and small rural villages....

to a country restaurant "where the local farmers eat" to have our lunch.  The decor is most unusual with tropical plants.....

and rippling channels in the floor with fish.

The delicious food arrived in minutes.... green beans fried with chilli, a dish of mixed mushrooms, chicken and pancakes. 

On the way to our next destination we had to travel through a rural area and Anne asked Vivie if she would take us to visit a country village...........

 The little three-wheeled vehicles were popular everywhere for carrying goods.  Note the coin operated children's ride on the footpath across the street!  Vivie is about to take us into the local supermarket....

This store catered for every need.  We bought a selection of the biscuits piled up here.

The Deli had a fabulous choice of food........

Next door was a fruit and vegetable market with a huge array of fresh produce.