Last days in Beijing

Here is Ginny with Mick. She is a friend of one of my school friends and her husband. She has been coming to China for more than 10 years and has seen huge changes here which were interesting to discuss with her. She is a retired professor from UK who continues to teach as, and when, she chooses. We spent a delightful and relaxing day with her at Factory 798 which is a disused electronics factory, with lots of old buildings and a railyard, which has been turned into a funky artsy area full of cafes, restaurants and galleries where artists have space to display their creations. Reminded me of the lofts in Toronto with their pipes and beams uncovered and on view. It was a lovely day and we wandered the galleries but, have to admit, spent most of our time relaxing and talking under the shady umbrellas and trees, as we first drank our coffee and later enjoyed a great meal at Ginny's favourite restaurant. After a hectic week in Beijing it was just what we needed.


Suddenly it was Thursday and time to return to Hangzhou but before we left we managed to squeeze in the Drum and Bell Towers and the Lama Temple. All of them worth a visit
especially the drum tower where we arrived in time to hear a demonstration of the drums. I cannot show you a picture yet as my card was full and Mick took the photos with our cell phone BUT we haven't yet learned how to take them off the camera so........

The 24 drums sit on high racks and the drummers play them by standing in front of them and beating them with wooden sticks. The drums range in size giving really deep vibrant notes echoing round the tower and over the rooftops, which are beaten to mark the hours of the day. They are only played at certain times for visitors now but in the 1800s they were beaten every hour - image that at midnight!

The Bell Tower houses a huge 500 year old bronze bell with 10cm thick walls which was beautiful and to get to the drums and bell we twice staggered up incredibly steep stairs which, because of their narrow treads were quite scary to descend. The view from both of these buildings was fascinating as you looked out over the rooftops of the crowded hutongs below


After all this we thought we needed to see another temple and so we did - the Yonghegong (Lama Temple). It was certainly worth it set as it is on a busy road but once inside the pace slows as you walk through an avenue of beautiful shady trees making you feel peaceful and unhurried. Gave me a chance to say my prayers .
It was founded in 1694 and has been home to the lamas and monks of the Yellow Hat (Huang Jiao) school of Tibetan Buddhism ever since.

It houses the largest standing Buddha we have ever seen - more than 29 feet tall - and carved out of one tree in ONE piece. Couldn't get it all into my camera so no picture of that either.


After 6 days walking in this pedestrian unfriendly city I almost ended up like this.....but Mick was as exhausted as me so that didn't quite work.



So we hopped the shuttle and headed for the airport which is a monstrous and very modern place


and on take off the greyness disappeared and we saw blue sky - a rare occurrence hence our notice of it.