Feeling only a little better, I tag along for the Hutong Tour by rickshaw. Hutongs are dense ethnic enclaves within Beijing that were established hundreds of years ago and at that time made up much of the city. They have small walls around them, a well, river or lake as a water source and very narrow streets. Each provides the basic necessities of daily living. Families center around a tiny courtyard with different generations living on each of the sides. Modernization has brought about the destruction of thousands of hutongs. Beijing has designated the remaining 26 hutongs as historical areas with special protection to preserve them. Many of the residents now make additional income showing tourists through their courtyard homes. It was quite interesting, even though we were told that many “working age” residents have moved out of the hutongs and into high-rise apartments elsewhere in the city for greater convienence. Still not feeling up to par, I did not go on the afternoon temple tours.
In the evening, we had a little celebration for the “Birthday Girls”: Fran, Charlotte and Linda. We ate the cake provided by China Highlights. Each celebrity wore a small Chinese cap with long, black, braided que. We had a few “yi, er, san; gan bai” toasts. It was a good time.
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Today we start with a rickshaw tour of a Hutong (alley – street). A family of several generations live around a central courtyard which had plantings, caged birds, flowers, etc. We were served tea and the daughter of the family explained how the house was organized. Her hands were freezing. I gave her my hand warmers and she asked to give me a hug – she was a sweetie. Jerry and Steve were interested in the bar street and I believe, revisited it later.
We went to the Temple of Heaven where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties came to pray for good harvests. Beautiful blue tiled temples and gates (blue – the color of heaven) a nice break from the usual gold and green colored tiles. Fran