Finally... I had a chance to see some extracts from the most famouse Beijing operas. It was a really thrilling performance.
Wiki says:
"Beijing opera or Peking opera (simplified Chinese: 京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century."
On Friday I went to the Great Wall… Finally :) I went to the Simatai (司马台) section of the Great Wall which is 120 km northeast of Beijing. It was built during Qi dynasty (550-557). Later on it was rebuilt by the Ming dynasty. Simatai section of the Great Wall is said to retain the original features of the Ming dynasty Great Wall. In the beginning, I and my friends thought to take a bus from Dongzhimen (东直门). When we got there by subway two men did stick to us offering to bring us to any part of the Great Wall by their mini bus or car. After bargaining for a while we were taken to the Great Wall quite fast and comfortable. The weather was perfect, and so was the Great Wall! :)
Finally... Simatai... The Great Wall is behind me... But still... How to get there? This is how you get there. :) Safe? Scary? Felt like in an amusement park :) Good... as it costs 50 yuan :D A view from the cable car. Another view. Still in the air. yaaay! Finally! On the Wall! Who's that? :S Magnificent! You don't believe in ghosts?! More of the very Wall! Some "barbarians" (foreigners) on the Wall. Yes, yes I am protecting the Great Wall from barbarians... But wasn't it supposed to protect the Chinese people from barbarians?! Now it needs protection itself... Landscapes... and the Wall... and more of landscapes... and again the Wall... :) and more... and more... One of the towers... But why? :( again... :) Going back... Our car and driver is already here...
On the 1st of October, when all China was celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China day, I decided to explore Beijing a bit more.
My destinations were Dashilan Hutong and Wangfujing.
This is what my dear Wiki says about Wangfujing: “Wángfǔjǐng street (Simplified Chinese 王府井大街; Hanyu Pinyin: Wángfǔjǐng Dàjiē), located in the Dongcheng District of Beijing, is one of the Chinese capital's most famous shopping streets. Much of the road is off-limits to cars and other motor vehicles, and it is not rare to see the entire street full of people. Since the middle of the Ming Dynasty there have been commercial activities in this place. In the Qing Dynasty, eight aristocratic estates and princess residence were built here, soon after when a well full of sweet water was discovered, thereby giving the street its name "Wang Fu" (aristocratic residence), "Jing" (well). In 1903, Dong'an market was formed.”
This is what my dear Wiki says about Hutongs: “Hutongs (simplified Chinese: 胡同; traditional Chinese: 衚衕; pinyin: hútòng) are narrow streets or alleys, most commonly associated with Beijing, China. In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Many neighbourhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another. The word hutong is also used to refer to such neighbourhoods. Since the mid-20th century, the number of Beijing hutongs has dropped dramatically as they are demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. More recently, some hutongs have been designated as protected areas in an attempt to preserve this aspect of Chinese cultural history.“
p.s. never visit famous places on the Chinese national holidays... unless you want to experience that China really has the biggest population in the world… :)
A man making little souvenirs right in front of your eyes.
Masses of Chinese and a few lost Lithuanians.
Entering one of the remaining Hutongs in Beijing.
Somebody lost some parts of their bodies.
Madly dancing trio. The true superstar is right in the middle.
Here comes a fan.
Another look at the Hutong.
There are 5 holes in the floor and no fence... that creates some perfect oppurtunities to interact together with some people.
Still there.
Gates to the one and only - Wangfujing!
Some local faces.
Umm.. what a nice selection of food... take a closer look... ;) enjoy!
Umm... the food is still moving... it must mean that it's still really fresh...
Which one to try first?
Very clever. As there were too many people wishing to use the subway... they decided to close it.
