By SF. Girls
"That's China"
Sara and I went to eat Zha Jiang Mian (boiled noodles with fried heavy sauce) at a restaurant the hotel recommended to us. The noodles were pretty good. Zha jiang mian is noodles with brown sauce made from fermented beans, meat, soy beans, scallions, etc. The waiters mix all the ingredients in front of you. A tasty mixture. However, halfway through my noodles I found a short piece of hair! At that point I was already pretty full and I just continued to eat. I reminded myself that I'm in China and I've experienced a lot grosser than a piece of hair in my food. Anyway, I showed the waiter and told him that I was done eating anyway. He showed the hair to the other waiters trying to determine whose head it came from. Oh well - that's China! I wonder if I made a fuss they would have returned my money. I doubt it. 
From the restaurant we walked to the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven was built during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1400s AD). The Temple was built as a place for the Emperors to come to pray for good weather and harvests. The architecture of the Temple of Heaven is very similar to the Forbidden City. Parts of the Temple of Heaven are also being renovated. I vested Temple of Heaven in 2005 and I found that my visit this time was much more memorable and striking. Perhaps it was the beautiful blue sky that day, but the Temple area seemed so much more peaceful, serene and hence the name "Tian Tan" (Altar of Heaven). The weather was a little less humid although still very hot. I didn't bring my umbrella with me that day and I bought one at the Temple of Heaven. Yes, I bought an umbrella to block the sun. I never thought I'd be that person! Everyone uses one though... and it sure does help! :)
Di-di and the Hutongs
From Tian Tan, we caught a cab to the Hutongs near Jingshan Park and HouHai Lake. Hutongs are the old kind of alleys which are made from the walls of rectangular courtyards. If you've seen Mulan - or old Chinese shows where the en
try to houses are along an alley and when you step into the door you enter a courtyard? I wish I had taken better photos to describe it. Anyway, the hutongs are over 700 years old and where built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Most of them being torn down because the land is valuable and are being replaced by high rise buildings. The area MMM and I visited is being protected by the government. Some of the hutongs looks pretty run down and old, others are renovated and look traditional and quite nice. Each doorway has a different kind of stone in front, symbolizing the status of the person living there. Of course, the hutongs are a tourist site and never fear, the Chinese find a way to make money! The best way to see the long alleys is to take a Pedi cab tour. In the morning, MMM and I asked the hotel and the concierge recommended a Pedi cab tour that was 180 rmb per person. As soon as we stepped off the taxi, a bunch of Pedi cab drivers hounded to take us around. MMM and I walked around a little and we considered the 4th or 5th Pedi cab driver that approached us. He walked with us for minutes trying to make go on his bike... it was annoying at first, but then he was so persistent... his price started at 100 rmb per person, then 180 rmb for both of us, then
went to 100 rmb, and then 80 rmb, and he said, "Come on! Let's go! My bike is this way!" I was a little skeptical and asked why he wasn't wearing an official orange vest like the other drivers. He laughed at my comment and promised his vest was at his bicycle. He also promised we would have a good time and that we wouldn't have to pay him if we didn't have fun, and that he would show us around until we felt like his tour was worth it. He also said that we could ask everyone getting off a Pedi cab and if we found someone who paid less than 50 rmb, we wouldn't have to pay. Sheesh, this guy sure was a great salesman! At this point he was begging for us to go with him, and he agreed to 50 rmb (less than $7 usd) for the two of us. It was so pathetic of him - we were humored by it though. So MMM and I decided to take his tour. There were much heavier tourists taking Pedi cab tours, but I still thought that our driver worked for his money. MMM and I combined are about 250 lbs. Hahah, he had to peddle standing to pull our weight, and he was sweating and huffing. I felt bad but thought it was hilarious at the same time. MMM and I nicknamed him Di-di (little brother) because he looked 20 years old (
he was actually 25 years old). He definitely entertained us the entire time by making ridiculous comments about how he was so happy to be pulling two pretty girls. At one point he was talking to us and almost ran into a pole. The ride was fun, and so was visiting the hutongs.
Da Dong Super Lean
We couldn't leave Beijing without eating the ever-so famous Peking roast duck! :) Recommended by MMM's family friend, we went to Da Dong Roast Duck, which claims to have a secret roasting method/recipe to decrease the amount fat in the duck. MMM and I ordered a roast duck (toppings/condiments are extra), a baked squash with fish, and vegetables. The whole duck is cut up in front of you and the carver carefully cuts each piece. Great presentation. Then the waitress showed us all the variations to eat the duck. My favorite was duck wrapped in hoisin, a little garlic paste, with a little sliced leek. So delicious. The skin was so crispy and could be dipped in sugar and ate plain, which was really yummy. It's still pretty fattening, but much less than your typical duck. The carver did a good job skimming it. The squash with fish was good too. The restaurant gave us complimentary desserts and fruit also. Overall, I think the most delicious meal I've had since I've come to China!
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