Beijing Zoo

It was the 4th morning in Beijing.. it was also the last day of my leisure time in Beijing, gotto get to work the following day.

morning at Meishijie across Leo Hostel

met up with this very handsome husky on our way to the train station

It was an in prompt to decision that we made to visit Beijing Zoo that day, with the mision to meet the black and while giant panda! Initially Beijing Olympic Stadium was also in the plan, we changes our mind after going through the long train ride from Guomao to Zoo. Btw, train ticket in Beijing is dirt cheap, RMB1 for any destination!



doodling on bricks believe to have been drawn by school kids as part of their co-curricular

Julie and I stand looking at this giant panda for at least half hour, he's so huggable

Zoom in to read about the giant's facts

Giant brown bear - equally huggable!
visitors was feeding the bear with whatever they have, kids were throwing twisty like junk food to him, poor fella :(

Handsome Cheetah!

mind the English

In this easy afternoon, we also discover this very delicioius local snack at the zoo exit.

Julie waiting for the pancake

the look can't tell how delicious it is



Simple ingredient made fantastic bites

Our second serving of the pan cake :)

Mutianyu Greatwall!

Let me now share with you my only highlight in Beijing, well this was sadly the only touristy thing that I enjoy during this trip.

After some simple enquiring the hostel reception on how to get to Mutianyu great wall, I was told to take an express bus from 东直门 station.

My breakfast - vegetarian dumpling, this meal make me gave up on local food here, basically survived with McD for the rest of my days in Beijing

Didn't realize my bus ride from Beijing city to Huairou will take me more than 2 hours. Which by the time I arrived at Huairou, it was already mid day so I have no time to waste hence hired a private van to take me to and from Mutianyu park.

the van that I hired

As much as I wanted to hike up the great wall by foot, unfortunately since time does not permit, I in the end took the cable car up. Bought 2-way ticket, however only use it for up cos I walked down later on.

the 2.5km stretch of wall at Mutianyu

Ready for the peak!

view from the peak - only if the skies is blue!

the french boy made it too

The lady who snap this picture for me hike up to this peak everyday, with some sovenir items, hoping to make some sales everytime a tourist made it to the top.

descending the wall at the opposite side of the peak

way down by foot

beside cable car, one can also opt to take this slides down if they do not want to walk

he came welcome me at the exit of the Mutianyu great wall :)

souvenirs stall at the exit/entrance

sight in the van back out of Mutianyu park

Although a brief visit, still it was an interesting and have enjoy much of the great wall climb however don't think I would do a come back.

Beijing

It was through work that I got the opportunity to visit Beijing for the first time, having heard about the city from many, I finally am here! I took a few extra off days prior to commencing work in Beijing office. China is another country that has language barrier problem, however thankfully this time I am able to speak the language which have save quite a bit of my time navigating for direction.

After claiming my baggage, I immediately took a cab from the airport directly to my pre-booked hostel, as all I want at that time was to catch up with some sleep! I have never like plane ride, the pressure makes me sick.



The main road outside Leo Hostel

Thankfully I manage to take a quick nap after checking in, then up I go went explore and look for lunch!

Ate a bowl of noodle here, it was interesting...

It was drizzling non-stop since I arrived at Beijing, things around the city seems passing so slowly, I was walking around the area without a proper direction... probably still zombie.

 

At Qianmen's Starbucks



Mao's memorial museum - open daily to public from 8am to 12noon, entrance is free, however the queue will make you think whether to go in.

I find this extremely troublesome, having to scan your bag every time you enter a train station - it was one of the reason prevent me from taking the train

there are people everywhere

Guards at the entrance of the forbidden city

Horrible pollution in Beijing

Without a fixed agenda I wasn't sure what to do for the rest of the afternoon, by chance ended up at the Zhongsan Botanical garden.

the wooden sign says 'Do not enter', who actually obey to the sign?

There were plenty of beautiful tulip flower blooming at the park, I was especially attracted to this stalk as someone have left some graffiti on it! guess local here tend to develop a strong interest in doodling; first the bamboo, then this tulip flower

also bump into some who were having traditional dance practise at the park

 



This pair of canvas shoes gave me some serious blister at the end of my Beijing trip

An artist by a pond with stagnate water

One handsome kitty at the park

liking the unique texture from an old tree

Zhongsan park entrance

transport system in Beijing

A child who cried so loudly at the square attracted my attention

 

the square area is too big, cleaners are all on bike like this 

On my way back to the hostel, I detour into some of the hutongs and there was construction going on everwhere, it was dusty and hard to walk.

My dinner after about an hour walk at the hutong - this was really nasty!!

This kitty is very fat and cute

local snack

pastry with green bean paste - it was tasty, the shop was modified the day I check out from Leo Hstel



大栅栏 is the touristy area in Beijing, it is located at a very central area where you can easily get to and from various tourist spot.