Bifeng Hotel Chengde

... much needed shopping at the local, underground department store. I got myself a coat, pair of pants and a shirt and a new, small suitcase for these little trips that don't need my massive fly cases I came to China with. I got my gal one of the same and a sweat-coat with the big buttons. Since we spent above a certain amount of money we got a rice-cooker for free (China is strange), I won't fight it since I need one, but it was really a pain to carry back.

... sticks that people would wedge into the rock-side (if it stayed, its good luck for you). On our way back down, despite my attempts not to spend the few kuai we had left, I bought a little plastic souvenir of the rock. The vendor got such a kick out of my "wu kuai (5)" when she asked for 10, that she agreed.<br><br>We were now off back to the town, to enjoy a hot-pot dinner with her family.<br><br><br>

... useful route for transporting troops across such mountainous terrain. Whatever its historical successes or failures, today it is an awe-inspiring sight, perched on high and rising up and down slopesfor miles, off into the distant horizon.<br><br><br><br> Whole sections of it have crumbled in the centuries since it was re-fortified during the 1600s Ming Dynasty, but the Chinese authorities are keen to promote it for tourism ...

... town of which I took some great photos.<br><br> The following day, and day after we took the bus to Chengde city for some sightseeing and adventure. At our return in the night in between, I had my first taste of Mahjong and had to read up on how to play. I love board games, and this and Go seem to be all that's played here, so I better learn and get a board, just need to avoid playing for money.

... dans les environs de Beijing. C'etait vraiment incroyable, et ca ne nous a coute que 8$, et il y avait trop de canard pour moi et Josee, on a du en laisser. Bref nos experiences culinaires s'ameliorent.<br><br>Apres Chengde, on retourne pour une derniere journee a Beijing. On ira voir d'autres parties de la grande muraille a Badaling et visiter les tombes de la dynatie Ming. On espere que ca en vaudra le detour.<br><br>A bientot,<br>Sylvain et Josee

... get out of Beijing there are not as many people who speak English so it gets tough.<br><br>The next day we rented two bikes and circled the area outside of the palace to see the eight outer temples. These temples were built for diplomatic more than spiritual reasons. Each temple was built to honor a different buddhist traditions. Only six remain and we only went inside the two largest temples (although we biked by the rest). The ...

Coming from Beijing to Chenge was like a breath of fresh air. I can understand why the Qing Emperor decided to have Chengde as their retreat, the montain resort away from the hectic Beijing. I planned to have Chengde as a day trip, which was not only possible, but I could miss the charming and the relax attitude of the local. Chengde is well known for the Mountain Resort (Bishu Sanzhuang) and its 8 outlaying temples. <br><br>The train left Beijing ...

... with Chris on my Chinese cell phone (note to self need more minutes... again). Then I boarded my train got shoved to the window by the group of Chinese people i met. Then I chilled out and read my book. About an hour into the train ride i started to study for my Chinese quiz on Monday. Then the person sitting across from me offered to help me. I gladly took the help to learn the stroke order for new words. Then we just started talking in Chinese. This trip made me feel a lot better about my Chinese.

... so you live and you learn. but it was cool that they brought the live fish out in a bag before they cooked it up. a new experience. tonight i move in with my host family. a couple around 50 years old with a 24 kid. they are 'officials' so i assume they work for the government but im not sure. their kid is a student but i dont know whether it is a guy or girl nor whether they still live in the home. i'll find out tonight. it might be a couple days till the next entry so everyone take care.

We took our 1st day train through rolling countryside to reach the home of the emperor's summer palaces at Chengde. We had a very frustrating time on arrival trying to find a hotel room. We were taken by a tout to a hotel in our price range to be told that the price for the 2nd night was double due to the weekend. We trolled round a few other places to find they were the same and even more expensive!! Exhausted with just finding the hotel we ...