9 Dragons House (Xinmao Hostel) Beijing

We were going to go on one of the typical tourist trips to the great wall, costing about £25 (alot out here), the more we looked into it the more money we would have to spend to get a good tour, unless we went with a dodgy guy on the street.

Luckily we met a great couple, Stacey and James, who are staying in our new hostel who have been traveling for 8 months the oppersite way to us. They were going to do there own great wall tour/camping mission and asked if we wanted to come.
Beijing, China brad.leah

The last place we decided we would
visit in Beijing was the Summer Palace. Now having our new china book
we know how to get to the summer palace without relying on subway and
walking. We had to get on bus 331. Even though our friend James has
previously shown us the ropes we were still rather apprehensive. All
buses are 1 yuan. This is 10p in England a great way to encourage
people to use public transport. Unlike England with high cost on
public transport. The onl...

Chinese
dumplings have a history of no less than seven thousand years.
Typically consist of a ground meat
and/or vegetable
filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough,
which is then sealed by pressing the edges together or by crimping.
These are served with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce. Then they are
steamed/boiled, occasionally you will find “fried dumplings”
which are first steamed, then fried on a skillet, these are our
f...

Got here yesterday about 7am after leaving Xi'an by a over night train. The people in the carriage was trying to hussle us for are beds which this time both the bottom bunks. We were not going to be sleeping on the top bunk ever again thats a fact. The train journey was not too bad and the hostel people came to pick us up from the train station. We had to sort out are train ticket to get to Hanoi and was rushing around the town going to different place to sort that out then getting to the rig...

Got up early today and went to the ticket place which we sorted are tickets from traveling down to Hanoi. So we leave tomorrow at 6 getting the overnight train which takes 2 days to Vietnam. Not looking forward to the train ride but looking forward to getting to Vietnam. After we sorted the tickets we went and got the bus to see the Great Wall Of China. Which took about 1 hour bus ride. Got there and **** me its steep in some places,lol! But was really good to take a walk along. The only prob...

We got up early and made are way to the forbidden city, which really should be called the kindom of court yards, as it is court yard after court yard. Didnt really think much of the place but was another one off the list. Took a quick detour to the lama temple where the only thing spliting there was the women, Nice! Got down to Beijing west to get are train to Hanoi. This is going to be a 2 day train ride in one room, woo hoo!

One teams experience:

One of our great delights is the chance to meet some of the families living around our host.  

The Pearl Project, is an attempt to support a couple of families who are experiencing very difficult circumstances.  Today some on our team visited a family living in a tightly cramped village of 3000 just five minutes away from our host.  The streets in this village were only the width of a small minivan.  Homes were small and very simple.     

The family ...

Well, thought should fill in all about Beijing while i get the chance! So we have been to all the attractions we have wanted to. Went to the olympic site, although we couldn't get very close but got some pics anyway. Been to Tian'anmen and forbidden city. Also went to the great wall and the ming tombs on thurs. Was so amazing, very surreal, have taken a ridiculous amount of pictures!! walked a bit along it and once again became a bit of an attraction, getting pics taken with some locals, so i...

Un detto cinese recita: "Un uomo che non ha mai camminato sulla Grande Muraglia non e' un vero uomo". Posso ormai dire, senza possibilita' di smentita, di essere un vero uomo. La strada per diventare un vero uomo e' stata faticosa, ma ne e' valsa la pena: dieci chilometri, cinque ore di cammino, un'infinita' di salite e di discese, decine di torri, migliaia di scalini, litri di sudore, ed una vista impagabile. La Grande Muraglia Cinese, una delle meraviglie del mondo, uno di quei luoghi che f...