And at dawn we arrive in Beijing...
In the new southern station, built for the fast trains from Shanghai. There are quite a few train stations, in Beijing...
Once settled in the hotel, we go visit the small streets, called Hutongs, where a true neighbourhood life remains... However it is very cold, the date is january 17th !
Reaching the Forbidden City, we learn it is already closed (we took our time, settling down at the hotel !)
And so we go towards Tienanmen plaza, just in time to see the change of the guards, from far away.
On the next morning, breakfast near the hotel, the buildings are somehow sovietic !
Again we go walking in the small streets. The bikes are everywhere in Beijing, although the city is large, it is flat.
The Hui, Chinese muslims, bake some nice small stuffed breads, we will often go back there...
A temple in the Hutongs.
And this time, we will be able to visit the Forbidden City !
We won't be alone visiting...
You can really come from the four corners of the world to visit !
In the City itself, there are a few museums, such as one for ceramics...
And some quite gardens.
The City is made of vast spaces...
I'd even say pompous and empty spaces. The architecture shows power, but not refinement or balance ; we are not fans of it. It feels like the first signs of soviet architecture...
The living quarters are smaller, full of small courts one after the other. It doesn't give a feeling of luxury, however.
Behind the Forbidden City, a parc with a temple at the top.
One can make costume pictures...
But more importantly, admire the sun setting over Beijing and the Forbidden City, the roofs of which at least are pretty.
However it is very cold, the Siberian plains are not that far...
Then we return to Beijing traffic. At least there are no overpass motorways like in other large cities of China and Asia.
The next day, third in Beijing, we take the train towards the mountains and Badaling, this time at the Northern Station.
Beijing and its backcountry are very dry - despite the cold, no snow !
And from the train we see what we came to see, the Great Wall.
Certains part are not in as good a shape - less restorated - than others !
In Badaling train station.
And we reach the Great Wall...
Which continues far away, as the train goes again...
We climb to see how the view is from up there.
Not bad - and the Great Wall doesn't stop.
We talk with two Chinese students from Wuhan - he is going to Thailand to teach Mandarin.
After going back down, I climb on the other side - a small memento of 2008...
On this side too the wall is great !
However at the top, the cable car brings crowds.
The place where tourists come - Badaling is the most touristic par of the Great Wall, even on a january week day the crowds are here.
That evening in Beijing, we see some hairdryer cooking.
For our last day in Beijing, we go visit a Tibetan Buddhist temple.
There are more colours than in the Forbidden City...
And people praying.
Again we go for a walk. The Chinese spend more time talking outside than in Shanghai, it feels like a nicer city.
In the parks too, there is talking...
playing...
And physical activities. The lady stretching her legs looks well beyond retirement age, which is quite late in China...
The sun sets...
And we take the subway (older than in Shanghai or Guangzhou)
This time we go to the main train station...
And we take the train to Dalian. We won't be alone in the compartment this time !
Beijing was quite more enjoyable than Shanhai, less devoted to the pursuit of money and of modernity for modernity's sake, and with much more local life in the Hutongs and in the park ; it feels that city has kept its soul still.
