Note to all: If you travel to China, make sure you bring CASH. Lots of CASH. It's not at all like the United States, where you can use credit cards for everything. Anyhow, I was doing OK on this trip...until yesterday. I thought that, going to all the different landmarks, that we would be able to pay the entrance fees with credit cards, like we do in the States. Not so here in China. Cash is king and nothing else matters. Anyhow, after the adventures yesterday, I was totally out of cash. I had exchanged $250US before coming to China. After yesterday, I was completely broke...and only had $25US left (not enough to exchange for more Yuan or Renminbi--also known as RMB).
I called my husband and asked for the PIN for our credit card to withdraw money, from an ATM, to find out that we don't have a PIN. However, he found out that Bank of America partners with China Construction Bank and will give cash advances. There is a branch not far from my hotel, but before I ventured out to find the bank branch, an angel came to my rescue! My husband's co-worker's wife happens to be living and working in Beijing right now, and she was able to come to see me...and loan me some RMB until I get home. She truly saved me! I was worrying about how I was going to eat...and get to the airport! I can't do any of that here in Beijing without cash! Thank goodness!
Trek to the Forbidden City
Anyhow, since my angel saved me, i was able to join some of my colleagues to go to the Forbidden City . We thought we would try to go to the Forbidden City over our lunch break. 5 of us squeezed into a 4 person taxi, and after a roundabout drive, the taxi driver dropped us off at the north gate (exit) of the Forbidden City. Problem was, you can't enter the Forbidden City from the north gate. So...we needed to walk all the way around one side of the perimeter of the Forbidden City in order to get to the entrance. (By that time our lunch break was over…needless to say…we didn’t make it to our afternoon sessions).
If there’s one word that comes to mind first when describing the Forbidden City, it’s “WOW.” After that, I would have to describe it as BIG. If I thought that the Summer Palace kept on going…and going…and going…well, it would also be an apt description for the Forbidden City as well. The Forbidden City was originally built to have 980 buildings and 9999 rooms. However, the grandeur of the Gates and Palaces really cannot be described in words. The photos describe it better, but the “Wow” effect can only be experienced fully in person. I have seen the photos, and even in videos and movies. It’s a stunning sight, and awe-inspiring just to see in photos and videos. However, it’s nothing like seeing it in person. I appreciated it even more after reading the two books about the Empress Dowager (Empress Orchid and The Last Empress, both by Anchee Min)—as I could see the palaces that were written about in the book.
As we pass through halls, and walk past palaces, we start to get a feel for the size of this complex. There are so many palaces and buildings to the sides—they start to look the same…one looks much like another. We joked about the fact that as we passed another set of buildings, we could count down--“four down, 976 to go…” We saw one the palace of the Dowager Empress Ci Xi (Tzu Hsi) 慈禧太后 when she was first selected as one of the Emperor’s concubines. We also saw the Emperor’s palace. We ended up being so tired by the time we reached the Emperor’s gardens that we decided to go ahead and leave, rather than going to see the palaces on the eastern side of the Forbidden City. This side was where most of the children and concubines of the Emperor lived. One can try and imagine what life might have been like back in the Ming and Qing dynasties—and thousands of concubines of the Emperor—most of whom might never have the opportunity to see him…beautiful birds in gilded cages.
The Emperor’s garden was interesting…there were many rough looking grey rocks of odd shapes, perhaps made of coral. In the winter, the plants were not in bloom, so we wondered what the Emperor’s garden back at the height of its glory and magnificence. We walked out and were immediately accosted by hawkers selling guidebooks and other cheap souvenirs. We had one Caucasian in our group—the rest were Chinese. Guess who the hawkers accosted? You guessed it! They looked right past me, but kept talking to the “Tall American Guy.”
It was about dinner time by now, so we decided to go to a popular shopping area known as “秀水街” xiu4 shui3 jie1, or “Silk Street.” To get there, we were not able to catch a taxi, so we opted to take a bus. It was the most crowded bus I think I’ve ever been on. One thing I’ve noticed is that the sense of personal space that most of us have developed growing up in the United States is different from the sense of personal space (or rather, lack of) they have in China. To say we were stuffed into the bus like sardines doesn’t necessarily describe it fully. The bus was most definitely packed! It was an interesting experience – and something that many people in Beijing go through every day.
Shopping, Food Courts, and Lost and Found…
Silk Street was a multi-level building with shopping and food on every level—and I can only compare to a cross between a department store and an upscale flea market. On the lowest level, there was a food court, but not just any food court—it was a Chinese food court—with all the food being Chinese (or other Asian styles). It was so cool! Dumplings, meat filled pancakes, noodles, soups, stir-fry…they had everything! I ended up enjoying a seaweed soup and a steamer basket full of pork buns. (Pictures to follow). The shopping was pretty cool too…you definitely could negotiate the prices with the various vendors. There was so much to see—they sold different types of products on each level. At one point I stopped to buy some gifts, and got separated by my group by the time I finished with the transaction. I looked up and down the staircases where we were looking at vendors, but couldn’t find the group I was with. Fortunately, after a few inquiries, I was able to find out that they had a loudspeaker for the whole building—and we could use it ourselves to make an announcement to meet our friends. The PA system was in the guard office, but they didn’t seem surprised and rather disinterested (though helpful) when I asked to make an announcement to my friends. Fortunately, my friends heard the announcement and we were reunited. All’s well that ends well! One more day of sessions…we “graduate” from our workshop tomorrow. Until then…