do leave your mark here at the...
by london.gal
do leave your mark here at the Great Wall of China. Yuuup, use a carving knife and start carving on one portion of the wall -- 'I was here!' Heavens no!!!!!! Of course you don't do a silly thing like that. Don't blame me if the communist party throw you into their dirty prison!!!!!!!!!
Bicycles
by bonio
Well, the song says there are 9 million bicycles in Beijing - maybe once but there's too much traffic now - it's too dangerous on a bike, everyone drives or takes public transport. Traffic is very congested at all times it seems.
Escape the Summer Place crowds with a picnic
by dm064
The New Summer Palace is always crowded, but everyone stays close to the Eastern entrance and the main pavilions. Strike out as far to the West as you can ad get lost in the gardens at the far side of the lake. Better still rent a small self-drive boat with an awning for protection from the sun for at least two hours and again go as far as you can to the West. Take a picnic with you. I am not sure about the legality of taking in food and wine but I pack it up in a chiller bag and no one has ever said anything.
By the way, do not even think of eating in any of the restaurants - they are bureaucratic run, the food is poor (rare in Beijing), expensive and check your bill carefully. Better self-cater.
Incense shops
by filipdebont about (could not read the Chinese name)
In the Yonghegong Daije Street, the street where you find the magnificent Lama temple (Yonghegong), and the Confucian temple (which is very nearby) you find several small shops which are selling lots of incense.
Incense in lots of different sizes and colours.
In these shops you can also buy religious items like small statues and necklaces and bracelets. incense, religious items a few yen
Beijing Opera
by solopes about Liyuan Theatre
I knew that this kind of opera is very hermetic for an European. I was afraid that the jet-lag could interfere. It didn't, and they were clever enough to make the show as detailed as possible to be understood, and has brief as needed to do not become boring.
I had a big guy in front of me all the time, so the only decent picture I could make was our table, but Burak was there, and, with his permission, my tip will not be plain text (with tea - another difference to our conventional opera - and nice company!).