Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Beijing/Xi'an
No pictures today because Lyla is out scouting out the area with her camera.
We started of the day in Beijing visiting the Temple of Heaven. Another large temple that was built to connect the earth with heaven, but not really with God (or a god). Chinese rulers ( as well as the people) are very superstitious. So temples were built for devine clearance and atonement, or for rites to be performed.
We then made our way to the airport, which meant that once again we were exposed to massive traffic jams. The city has had such an influx of people (17 million or 3 times NYC) and the status symbol is a car. So they all try to drive. The result is massive gridlock. the buses are packed, the roads are clogged, and they can not seem to get a handle on how people can move around. The young people are moving to the large cities seeking out new opportunities, the infrastructure can not keep up.
We flew to Xi'an (she'-on), a city of about 7 million and the former capital of China. The drive from the airport was about 75 minutes, and we saw skyscraper after skyscraper being built with apartments. As in Beijing, people are moving to this city because it is a hi-tech hotbed and there are many universities here. So you can imagine the traffic. People trying to get around actually running across the freeway, and are able to because traffic is stopped.
I can not imaging being an independent tourist in this country. Not many people speak English, the traffic is difficult and road system is complex and not well marked.Our tour guides are great because they live in the cities we are visiting and can speak to local culture.
Yesterday, we went to a hutong in Beijing. It is like an old,old section that has not been swallowed up by new buildings. Within the hutongs are little family compounds where multiple generations live. The one we visited had been in the family for 100 years and had recently gotten indoor plumbing. This was located about 1 mile from the Forbidden City! She had also gotten cable TV and broadband. The interior of the buildings all face each other and there was a little room for the concubine!
There is so much to absorb, and the culture is so different, but what a great experience.
We started of the day in Beijing visiting the Temple of Heaven. Another large temple that was built to connect the earth with heaven, but not really with God (or a god). Chinese rulers ( as well as the people) are very superstitious. So temples were built for devine clearance and atonement, or for rites to be performed.
We then made our way to the airport, which meant that once again we were exposed to massive traffic jams. The city has had such an influx of people (17 million or 3 times NYC) and the status symbol is a car. So they all try to drive. The result is massive gridlock. the buses are packed, the roads are clogged, and they can not seem to get a handle on how people can move around. The young people are moving to the large cities seeking out new opportunities, the infrastructure can not keep up.
We flew to Xi'an (she'-on), a city of about 7 million and the former capital of China. The drive from the airport was about 75 minutes, and we saw skyscraper after skyscraper being built with apartments. As in Beijing, people are moving to this city because it is a hi-tech hotbed and there are many universities here. So you can imagine the traffic. People trying to get around actually running across the freeway, and are able to because traffic is stopped.
I can not imaging being an independent tourist in this country. Not many people speak English, the traffic is difficult and road system is complex and not well marked.Our tour guides are great because they live in the cities we are visiting and can speak to local culture.
Yesterday, we went to a hutong in Beijing. It is like an old,old section that has not been swallowed up by new buildings. Within the hutongs are little family compounds where multiple generations live. The one we visited had been in the family for 100 years and had recently gotten indoor plumbing. This was located about 1 mile from the Forbidden City! She had also gotten cable TV and broadband. The interior of the buildings all face each other and there was a little room for the concubine!
There is so much to absorb, and the culture is so different, but what a great experience.
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