Wandering Around Beijing China

When Lindsay and I visited the amazing city of Beijing China we only had a handful of days to explore the city (which we were very sad about).  In order to get as much done as possible we decided to fall back on something we do every time we travel that rarely, if ever, fails us.  We picked a handful of main sights that we wanted to see (i.e. Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, etc) and toured them in depth.  Once we had done this we then simply wandered around as much as possible to try and take in the numerous other sights, sounds and scenes that make up Beijing.  I am thinking of one sunny day in particular when we started our “wandering” in the parks that surround The Forbidden City.  It was a beautiful, and hazy, summer day  and as we wandered through these parks we caught a glimpse into the daily life of the people of Beijing.  The first thing we noticed was a group of older men & women dancing in the park.  We ended up seeing this numerous times while in China but it was at this park when we noticed it for the first time.  These senior citizens (mostly) would gather together in groups, play loud & cheerful music and do the best dance ever.  Lindsay and I just couldn’t help but stop and watch for about 20 minutes straight.  It is not everyday you get to see 30 senior citizens dancing in unity to what sounded like Chinese polka music. :)  Lindsay and I finally realized that these people really have it figured out.  They are outdoors in the park, staying active and healthy and enjoying life to the fullest…you could see it on their faces that they just loved these group dancing sessions.  As we continued through the park we then noticed what at first looked like a group of people kicking around a dead bird.  It was actually a “shuttlecock” which is basically like a hacky-sack with feathers on it.  The feathers help with the speed of the shuttle cock so that you can kick it as hard as you want and it never goes that far.  Also, because it moves slower it allows for a lot more creativity in the way you kick it.  We saw people of all ages doing this from groups of old women to young guys who use it as a form of volleyball (except you kick the shuttlecock across a small short net).  I immediately became obsessed with this and couldn’t wait to try it.  Eventually we found a store that sells them and I bought two to bring home and play with.  For about the next year our entire family (i.e. brothers, nieces, nephews, etc) became totally obsessed as well.  In addition to the old folks dancing and shuttlecocking we also saw numerous Chinese families just enjoying the park.  Lindsay was pregnant at the time so we literally just strolled along slowly in the parks taking in the scene around us.  It is amazing what you discover when you simply walk around in a different part of the world.  By the late afternoon we had made our way to the beautiful area of the city known as Shichahai which consists of lakes, trees, parks, bridges, restaurants and charming old Hutong neighborhoods (historical old neighborhoods of Beijing characterized by small narrow alleyways, stone houses, etc).  This is were are walk began to take a very slow pace as we took our time wandering around the lake and pausing to watch the boats and people float by.  We eventually crossed a cute little stone bridge and found ourselves in an old Hutong neighborhood full of all sorts of shops.  This is where I ended up getting my beloved Shuttlecock and Lindsay found the perfect traditional Chinese tea set.  Once we had our shopping fix we continued to wander until we found ourselves underneath the beautiful and historic Beijing Bell Tower.  This commanding structure made almost entirely of stone and wood is in the classical Chinese style and towers above the surrounding neighborhoods.  By this time Lindsay and I were wiped out and began the trek home to our guesthouse.  When we started out that day for our walk we really didn’t have much of an itinerary.  However, by the end we had seen numerous beautiful sights and gotten a glimpse into the daily life of the people of Beijing China.  If you are ever traveling and find yourself with a few extra hours just start walking.