Lunch on the Great Wall
The two Mikes
Entrance to Forbidden City (Portrait of Mao)
Last meal in Beijing (1)
Last meal in Beijing (2)
Temple of Heaven (1)
Soft sleeper cabin to Shanghai 
Temple of Heaven (2)
Playing snooker (Yes, that is a referee!) 
The "'Maosoleum"
The two Mikes and me drinking expensive Guinness
View from the Great Wall
The Hiking team in action
My bed in Beijing :)
Me on the "Wild Wall"
View of the Forbidden City
Mike and me eating Peking Duck
April and MikeBeijing - Capital of China
Currency - Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB)
1 RMB = 0.11 EUR
1 EUR = 8.87 RMB (Both circa; at the time of writing)
After I arrived in Beijing I was really tired and so didn't do much when I initially reached the ancient Capital of Zhong Guo (Chinese name for China). Luckily for me Mike could collect me at the airport so there was no hassle there. I took a nap and he went back to work. Mike met me back at his place then and we went to meet a friend of his - April - to go have dinner. We chatted for a bit, April (who is a journalist) was reluctant to leave her work but we persuaded her eventually. I mentioned my desire to spend one of my days out at the Great Wall. April voiced the fact that she knew a hiking group who travelled out to a remote part of the Wall most Sundays if I was up for it. Hell yeah.
The following day I went to visit the famous Tian'anmen square, which was busy with Chinese tourists in town for the New Year. The security was phenomenal with both a Police and Military presence. On entering the square any bags you brought with you had to go through an x-ray machine, airport style. Contained within one of the buildings is the remains of the Chinese leader, Mao Zheng, the People's Republic of China's first president (Mike said they call it the 'Maosoleum'). At the entrance to the Forbidden City is a portrait of Mao which reportedly took over 20 years to complete. Mao is adored amongst the Chinese.
After wandering around mystified I went and viewed some Art work which, sadly, forbade photography. Mike met up after work and treated me to wonderful Peking duck, it was fantastic. You put the duck into Chinese style wraps with thin strips of cucumber, carrot and hoisin sauce. Some of the girls wear the traditional style dress which looks amazing. We then took a walk through the famous 'Silk Street'. All types of branded clothes are here and everything is so cheap! However, everything is fake and it is becoming a problem for China. In fact, I have met a patent attorney and Mike has mentioned that China is number one in patent fraud (no great surprise there).
Had a bit of a chill out day on Saturday after having beers with Mike's flat mate (Hun) and his friend - really great people, so friendly and warm. Chinese people really know how to make someone feel welcome. We did still go for lunch with April and another friend of Mike's Carol. The food - like all the food I've had so far - was wonderful. Over coffee I discussed with April about meeting the following day for the day trip out to the Wall.
Mike and myself stayed out at the apartment he owns and I got up at 6h45 for the hiking trip to the Wall. About 15 in all went on the trip. I seriously didn't know what I was letting myself in for. Seriously. April wasn't joking when she described it as the 'Wild Wall'. At different points during the hike I was terrified, being afraid of heights, as we were practically on top of a mountain for parts of the hike. The wind was fierce and unrelenting, unforgiving. The views were simply breathtaking.
The hiking team were fantastic and I had many wonderful chats with them - all of whom were experienced enough hikers. I hadn't really hiked before. The hike was about 5 hours in duration, well 4 hours 15 minutes as we stopped off for lunch. We started at 09h30 and finished at 14h30. This is a certain recommendation from my part though the guy who organised the trip asked me not to offer details etc as it is illegal to privately hike the Wall and he wants to keep the numbers low, away from publicity. After the hike - when I could barely walk - we got back to the bus for beers! Had more interesting chats with fellow hikers. The entire trip only cost 100 RMB - the cost of the bus only as the organiser wasn't looking to profit out of his own passion.
Noodles for dinner with Mike and then we went out to an Irish pub his friend wanted to go to. We had a Guin and whiskey session but it was so so expensive: 55 RMB for a Guin. Suffered a little the next morning on two fronts: was hungover and started to get a cold. After the hike it was my body's knee jerk reaction to the harsh weather we had to endure. Well worth it. Spent time at the Forbidden City while Mike had to get up and go to work (grim, especially as he isn't use to drinking Whiskey!). The gardens at the Forbidden City are really picturesque with 500 year old cypress trees; over 4,000 in total. I didn't pay into the Museum section, I would have done if I was only going to China but I'm starting to become more and more aware of budgeting constraints and to think of the coming months.
After work Mike met me and we went for a deserved Chinese massage which was fantastic and needed. We paid RMB 135 for one hour and had some nice tea both before and after. I can't tell you how relaxing it was. The ambiance of the therapy centre was on the mark and we both left feeling rejuvenated. We had arranged to go watch a movie at Aprils place later - "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". People, please do not watch this movie, you physically age during this entertainment feast (clearly sarcasm), one of the most pedestrian movies I've ever watched. Give it a miss.
Currency - Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB)
1 RMB = 0.11 EUR
1 EUR = 8.87 RMB (Both circa; at the time of writing)
After I arrived in Beijing I was really tired and so didn't do much when I initially reached the ancient Capital of Zhong Guo (Chinese name for China). Luckily for me Mike could collect me at the airport so there was no hassle there. I took a nap and he went back to work. Mike met me back at his place then and we went to meet a friend of his - April - to go have dinner. We chatted for a bit, April (who is a journalist) was reluctant to leave her work but we persuaded her eventually. I mentioned my desire to spend one of my days out at the Great Wall. April voiced the fact that she knew a hiking group who travelled out to a remote part of the Wall most Sundays if I was up for it. Hell yeah.
The following day I went to visit the famous Tian'anmen square, which was busy with Chinese tourists in town for the New Year. The security was phenomenal with both a Police and Military presence. On entering the square any bags you brought with you had to go through an x-ray machine, airport style. Contained within one of the buildings is the remains of the Chinese leader, Mao Zheng, the People's Republic of China's first president (Mike said they call it the 'Maosoleum'). At the entrance to the Forbidden City is a portrait of Mao which reportedly took over 20 years to complete. Mao is adored amongst the Chinese.
After wandering around mystified I went and viewed some Art work which, sadly, forbade photography. Mike met up after work and treated me to wonderful Peking duck, it was fantastic. You put the duck into Chinese style wraps with thin strips of cucumber, carrot and hoisin sauce. Some of the girls wear the traditional style dress which looks amazing. We then took a walk through the famous 'Silk Street'. All types of branded clothes are here and everything is so cheap! However, everything is fake and it is becoming a problem for China. In fact, I have met a patent attorney and Mike has mentioned that China is number one in patent fraud (no great surprise there).
Had a bit of a chill out day on Saturday after having beers with Mike's flat mate (Hun) and his friend - really great people, so friendly and warm. Chinese people really know how to make someone feel welcome. We did still go for lunch with April and another friend of Mike's Carol. The food - like all the food I've had so far - was wonderful. Over coffee I discussed with April about meeting the following day for the day trip out to the Wall.
Mike and myself stayed out at the apartment he owns and I got up at 6h45 for the hiking trip to the Wall. About 15 in all went on the trip. I seriously didn't know what I was letting myself in for. Seriously. April wasn't joking when she described it as the 'Wild Wall'. At different points during the hike I was terrified, being afraid of heights, as we were practically on top of a mountain for parts of the hike. The wind was fierce and unrelenting, unforgiving. The views were simply breathtaking.
The hiking team were fantastic and I had many wonderful chats with them - all of whom were experienced enough hikers. I hadn't really hiked before. The hike was about 5 hours in duration, well 4 hours 15 minutes as we stopped off for lunch. We started at 09h30 and finished at 14h30. This is a certain recommendation from my part though the guy who organised the trip asked me not to offer details etc as it is illegal to privately hike the Wall and he wants to keep the numbers low, away from publicity. After the hike - when I could barely walk - we got back to the bus for beers! Had more interesting chats with fellow hikers. The entire trip only cost 100 RMB - the cost of the bus only as the organiser wasn't looking to profit out of his own passion.
Noodles for dinner with Mike and then we went out to an Irish pub his friend wanted to go to. We had a Guin and whiskey session but it was so so expensive: 55 RMB for a Guin. Suffered a little the next morning on two fronts: was hungover and started to get a cold. After the hike it was my body's knee jerk reaction to the harsh weather we had to endure. Well worth it. Spent time at the Forbidden City while Mike had to get up and go to work (grim, especially as he isn't use to drinking Whiskey!). The gardens at the Forbidden City are really picturesque with 500 year old cypress trees; over 4,000 in total. I didn't pay into the Museum section, I would have done if I was only going to China but I'm starting to become more and more aware of budgeting constraints and to think of the coming months.
After work Mike met me and we went for a deserved Chinese massage which was fantastic and needed. We paid RMB 135 for one hour and had some nice tea both before and after. I can't tell you how relaxing it was. The ambiance of the therapy centre was on the mark and we both left feeling rejuvenated. We had arranged to go watch a movie at Aprils place later - "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". People, please do not watch this movie, you physically age during this entertainment feast (clearly sarcasm), one of the most pedestrian movies I've ever watched. Give it a miss.
Next day, my final day in Beijing, was great. I went to the Temple of Heaven. Really fascinating temple and gardens of immense historical significance. The emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties offered annual prayers in the hope that the harvests would be good for the next 12 months. Sights such as the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall make you realise the extent of the history of China.
Mike, Hun and his friend (sorry Hun's friend, forgot your name!) treated me to one last great meal in Beijing before I had to catch my overnight train to Shanghai. I was so happy to have been able to hang out with them in Beijing.
Mike - special thanks to you, my friend, for making my stay in Beijing a memorable one, look forward to seeing you down in New Zealand when I get set up.
In Shanghai now and having a great time. Will tell more when I write my next post...
All the best,
Liam O'Connor, travelling hobbit
Liam O'Connor, travelling hobbit
