We have learned much about power in ancient Asia on this trip and we seemed to have discovered that cruelty and ruthlessness are essential ingredients. None was evidenced more than by the reign of Xici, the concubine of the then deceased Emperor and the mother of the newest and next-to-the-last Emperor who she murdered in order to take appoint he nephew whom she held prisoner for 10 years and then poisoned on the eve of her own death from diarrhea. The 285 ha of the Summer Palace are adorned with a massive man-made lake dug by 100,000 forced labourers, the longest mural-painted corridor in the world at 700+m, a beautiful pagoda at the top of the man-made mountain (from the dug lake) and dozens of buildings fit for royal use. Her rule for 48 years as the Emperor-mother had her destroy the powerful armada of the Chinese fleet and misappropriate the navy’s funds to build and maintain this remarkable palace. To this day, it survives as a wonderful tourist attraction. Our guide, Happy, was amazing (so amazing that we booked him for tomorrow’s excursion to the Great Wall and Ming Tombs) and entertained us with stories and facts that really hit home for the 2-hours that we spent here.
To get to the Summer Palace, we had taken a cab from the hotel and we were thinking about continuing on to the Silk Market by the same means. However, Happy suggested that we just hop on the bus as it will take us to within 3 blocks of the market (the concierge at the hotel had given us free of charge, loaded metro/bus cards) and be virtually free for the 4 of us. The cab ride would cost around 80RMB to 100RMB (RMB is the Chinese version of CNY) to it seemed to make sense.
Except for the 2-hours that it took to go the 30+ km in heavy traffic. Anyway, we made the most of it and eventually arrived at the Silk Market, a mega-haggling designer clothes centre where the asking price of a polo shirt starts at 450RMB and ends at 40RMB. Of course we loved the stop and will probably return to buy a few souvenirs.
To get to the Summer Palace, we had taken a cab from the hotel and we were thinking about continuing on to the Silk Market by the same means. However, Happy suggested that we just hop on the bus as it will take us to within 3 blocks of the market (the concierge at the hotel had given us free of charge, loaded metro/bus cards) and be virtually free for the 4 of us. The cab ride would cost around 80RMB to 100RMB (RMB is the Chinese version of CNY) to it seemed to make sense.
Except for the 2-hours that it took to go the 30+ km in heavy traffic. Anyway, we made the most of it and eventually arrived at the Silk Market, a mega-haggling designer clothes centre where the asking price of a polo shirt starts at 450RMB and ends at 40RMB. Of course we loved the stop and will probably return to buy a few souvenirs.
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