In the morning, at 7 a.m we awoke to the screaming of kids pretending to be cats in the common courtyard followed by what seemed to be rehearsals of folk singers doing their best belts of 60s protest songs. We rose, packed our bags and raced to the Holiday Inn – not so much because of its 4-star amenities but because of their service. This particular hotel boasts the best concierge in China, Storm. The hotel itself, is a large, modern and clean hotel in a business district – not quite what we were after, but they do speak English and have a quality restaurant that would make it easier for Brendan’s allergies.
Our visit to Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City were a bit rushed as these central Beijing destinations close at 5. Thanks to our guide, we managed to learn much of the city’s history, including the last Emperor and his concubines. The buildings have been nicely maintained/restored and with the cobbled brick courts, it seems very authentic and large. The gardens, too, have been meticulously maintained and boasts many trees over 300 years old.
In the evening, Storm had arranged for us and another wonderful family to dine at a traditional Chinese restaurant where the dinner was a “hotpot”. The restaurant’s specialty was a mushroom hotpot with 11 varieties cooked at various stages to give us soup, dinner and dessert – all from mushrooms. The adults seemed to enjoy it, but the kids were eating anything but the hotpot (mostly rice). It was a great experience and the time spent with the Americans was fantastic making for a terrific evening. Our transportation was also an adventure, as the guide had departed after our arrival and assurance of Brendan’s meal’s safety. We took the local bus number 56 from the restaurant to the hotel. The Chinese locals were very amused. As were we!
Our visit to Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City were a bit rushed as these central Beijing destinations close at 5. Thanks to our guide, we managed to learn much of the city’s history, including the last Emperor and his concubines. The buildings have been nicely maintained/restored and with the cobbled brick courts, it seems very authentic and large. The gardens, too, have been meticulously maintained and boasts many trees over 300 years old.
In the evening, Storm had arranged for us and another wonderful family to dine at a traditional Chinese restaurant where the dinner was a “hotpot”. The restaurant’s specialty was a mushroom hotpot with 11 varieties cooked at various stages to give us soup, dinner and dessert – all from mushrooms. The adults seemed to enjoy it, but the kids were eating anything but the hotpot (mostly rice). It was a great experience and the time spent with the Americans was fantastic making for a terrific evening. Our transportation was also an adventure, as the guide had departed after our arrival and assurance of Brendan’s meal’s safety. We took the local bus number 56 from the restaurant to the hotel. The Chinese locals were very amused. As were we!
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