September 29, 2008 - A Stroll Through Beijing

Like the day before, again I rose fairly early and hopped on the subway, hoping to do some exploring. So, after a rather lengthly subway ride and after wandering around the subway entrance, fumbling with my tourist map, I managed to come across the grand Soviet-style convention hall.

Alas, if only that was what I had been originally searching for. Actually, I was trying to find the Beijing Zoo so I could go see some pandas, but unfortunately it was like a metaphorical zoo outside the zoo, with crowds trying to get in. So unfortunately, I got just a tad intimidated by the madness, and promptly wandered back to the subway and made my way to White Cloud Temple, supposedly the largest Taoist temple in the city. 

 Unfortunately, as beautiful as it was, I didn't get much in the way of photographs due to the fact that I'm pretty sure I was the only foreign tourist there, whereas everyone else was there to use the temple for its intended purpose and were all at prayer. Needless to say, it didn't take long for me to feel like the nosy, photo-snapping jerkbag of a Westerner, so not long after my arrival I stowed my camera away and just wandered around. 

Here's a good example how China's no longer the typical atheist communist state; a crowd of people lined up to go pray at the shrine of the wealth deity (the only shrine in the whole complex that had a line to get in). I mean really, what else can you say?

Now after my tour of the temple was over, my original plan was to troop back to the nearest subway station to visit Jingshan and Beihai, two parks right next to one another and both placed literally right behind the Forbidden City. However, after exiting White CLoud Temple, I looked at my map and thought to myself, "You know....Tienanmen isn't that far away from here, actually."

Thus, I strolled all the way there....which is hardly a big feat, considering it was only two miles or so away, or at least I think.

Here's one of the four arrow towers positioned at the corner of the Forbidden City. 

Now, what makes Jingshan Park so special was that besides being an old imperial park, it's supposed to be the highest point of elevation in Beijing, which in theory means spectacular views of the city. 

As you can deduce for yourself, Jingshan doesn't have too much to boast about with the smog getting in the way of everything. 

Fortunately, there was one attraction there that the smog couldn't obscure; the spot were the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty fled to and then hung himself after rebels entered the city. Above, you can see the tree planted in place of the one he hung himself from, while below you can gander at the two steles that have been planted in commemoration of him.

Anyhow, after Jingshan park, I strolled next door to Beihai, another imperial garden, which was absolutely splendid in the setting sun, especially the White Dagoba sitting in the middle of the island set in the garden's large pool. 

While the park was absolutely magnificent, actually I spent a fair amount of time absolutely fascinated with the ducks there in the small lake, thus proving that absolutely nothing has changed since I was three years old.  

Like when I had first exited White Cloud Temple, I had planned on hopping on the nearest subway and heading back to UIBE. When I took a glance at my map though, I couldn't but help but think to myself, "You know....the old Drum and Bell Towers aren't that far away, actually." So, I took a bit of a trek north into the hutongs, where I laid eyes first upon the Drum Tower (closed for the day to all those who wish to enter it), and then the old Bell Tower.



Considering how late in the day it was and seeing how close I was to a subway station at that point, it seemed like the logical option would've have been to shell out the two yuan for a subway ride. However, it was right after I visited the Bell Tower that I took one more look at my map and actually realized how far I had walked. And so, after mulling over this discovery, as best put by Forrest Gump, "I figured since I gone this far, I might as well keep going." So, without a second thought, I tucked my map away, and followed the subway stations all the way back home. 

I don't know quite for sure how many miles I walked that particular day...but if the looks I got when I told others about what I did are any indicator at all, I'm guessing that I hiked quite a fair distance.