Beijing - Day 1

Chicago to Seoul, then to Beijing (going over the Arctic then around the backside of N. Korea.

Landed in Seoul - Korean Air was fantastic

As was the airport, with a parade of traditional Korean people, an orchestra playing, free massage chairs, recliners, and movies, along with some great Korean food.

Got to Beijing tired, took the train to Dongzhimen station and stayed a block from the mall at a place I found on Airbnb.  Went to bed.  First day, woke up at 4am.  The day was the only clear day on the whole trip (pollution and rain the rest).  

On the way to the first stop, bought some street food, this egg, lettuce, and meat breakfast sandwich which was spicy-ish and good.  Later in the day this place was packed with street food vendors with fruit and this really good glazed strawberry thing on a stick along with another region-specific, reddish fruit which was sweet but looked like a small tomato.  Very good...

Here, in the Temple of Heaven park, elderly people are doing exercises on the equipment, playing games such as kicking a feather ball (hackey-sack type game), singing traditional music, or playing instruments.

Long corridor where Chinese people gathered to play and socialize.  Card games were very popular.  

Entered into the main Temple of Heaven complex.

Once again, a little closer.  In this building the ruler made prayers for grains and crops I believe.

Closer up.  Nice architecture and details.

Looking down from the building above to another.

The side of the building.

The center of the building.

Again, the main building but also note the work on the railings.

Gates

Cool door knob.  Can't find that at Home Depot.

This door was built for the ruler who was old and needed a quicker entrance / exit.  However, after the initial use, it became known as the 70 year door as people only over 70 years could use it.

Some of this stuff was super old.  Some of the artifacts were 7,000+ years old.  The oldest pottery found in China was believed to be about 18,000 years old.

Main walk up to the building.

View from inside a side building

Walking south and looking back to the structure

Old tree.

Another part of the Temple of Heaven Complex.

Nine is a lucky number in China.  The center stone of this complex was surrounded by 9 stones in the first rung and 81 in the last ring in the top circle.

Cool dragons

Another cool building - a lot of China has this type of architecture...while it is present in the historical sites, many buildings have it too.  Many buildings also don't use nails. The word for nails in Chinese also means death...so...

Used to be a nice moat I bet.

Walking back through park looking at the main structure again.

Should've taken some pictures of the Pearl Market where I went to next.  Its right across the street from this park and next to the Subway.  Bought some silk clothes.  My first negotiation I realized after went bad, and bought for way too much.  All the rest of the negotiations went well.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294212-d321012-Reviews-Pearl_Market_Hongqiao_Market-Beijing.html

Next, took subway over to the Summer Palace.  Got stuck in a large crowd.  Turns out Michelle Obama was in town.  Couldn't get through or in.  Waste of a couple hours or so but a good workout walking there and back.  These cars are all part of her entourage.  Thousands of people were just waiting around the site.

Took subway to the Olympic complex.  By this time, I'm tired of walking.  Here's the pool.  Probably cool at night.

And the stadium.

Bird's Nest I believe...

Went home and rest after this long day.  Never felt unsafe in Beijing.  Subways had English on them.  Used broken Chinese but would have been tough to get around either without internet or knowing a little Chinese.