June 17, 2007 - Beijing

Last day in Beijing. Mailed some more stuff at the China Post this morning. Walked through the hutongs in the area to Luilichang huton, an art street, which is considered a historic hutong. The post office was located here. We brought our souvenirs and some clothes we need to return to Japan. The lady at the counter took a box, got our stuff and put them in, then taped the box for us (we didn't even have to bring our own tape). It cost us about 230+ yuan. Hopefully, it gets to Japan within the next week or so.

We took our time meandering through Luilichang after mailing. Interesting things to see along the hutong. Very clean, orderly, and much preserved. We can say that even though the hutongs are narrow and crowded, it is clean, not smelly, and orderly.

Our map is really not much of use because what's in them are now obsolete. Hutongs, small roads now converted to big roads and big buildings.

We came out at a main road where the Sogo Mall is located. Huge and classy, still being renovated. Had our light breakfast here at Tous Le Jours bakery. Walked along the main road (which becomes Tian An Me jie) to check out the new National Theater, an oval shaped building right behind the Hall of the People.

We rode the Metro line 1 (red) this time. The places we wanted to see were connected on this line: The silk market street (which is now actually a big mall like in Greenhills), the Friendship store, Wang Fu Jing (Oriental Mall).

Lunch was at Yoshinoya, a japanese fast food restaurant, for a meal that is not oily. Followed by dessert at Yogen Fruz (again!)

Then we took the Metro line 1 to connect with the line 2 at Jianguomen to go north to the Lama Temple. Unfortunately the metro that stops right near the temple is closed due to the new metro line the goes from north to south which passes through this stop. We had to get off the stop after then walked the 2nd ring road to the Temple.

This Yonghe Lama Temple boasts of a huge 18 meter (plus about 8 more underneath) Buddha made of a single sandalwood tree. Really enormous. It is supposedly the Buddha of the Future.

We didn't stay long there as we both had enough of Temples and museums, and soon, Chinese food.

Well, back here at the hostel, we are trying hard to get a reservation for a hotel stay in Hong Kong for June 29 to July 2. We decided to cancel the Guangzhou trip due to the flooding and rains, and stay in Hong Kong for its 10th year anniversary of their return to China - which we believe is much more important. Hopefully, we can get a reservation without having to pay with our cc yet. We'll see.

This will be my last post from Beijing. Hopefully, we will be able to return here in 5 years or so to see the developments this city has begun.

For now, Tzai jien!