Day 1, Saturday: Beijing Zoo, Lama Temple, Confucius Temple, a Hutong, and a tea ceremony

We got off to an 8am start in order to make several stops on Day 1 of our tours. I did lots of researching for tour guides before we arrived. I typically get to places without guides, but I had the sense we would need the help here, and I was right. Our guide, who goes by "Sabrina" in her tour guide job, was very fun and informative.

Sabrina in a rickshaw during our hutong visit

We began at the Beijing Zoo to see the famous pandas. At one point, when I thought I had my video on, a panda pulled a giant pile of bamboo over his head. When he came out, he stuck his face into the air making funny faces. Of course, I did not have the video on (new camera...). But I have a few cute pics:

Chowing down

Time to snooze

Our next stop was the Lama Temple, the most famous Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet. There are many halls and courtyards within the temple. The fifth hall houses an 18-meter high Buddha. The Lama Temple is an active site for worshippers, and it was filled with many burning incense, turning the prayer wheel and kneeling before the various Buddhist figures in the vast halls.

After the busy-ness of the Lama Temple, we crossed the street and entered the quiet pleasure of the Confucius Temple. Built in 1302, it has four courtyards and is the second largest Confucius temple in China. Besides the beauty of the pavilions and statues, the cypress trees ranging from 300-400 years old were amazing with the gnarled and twisting branches.

After leaving the Confucius Temple, we went for a rickshaw ride to a hutong, or old traditional Beijing neighborhood. With modernization, many hutongs have disappeared. But those that are left are vibrant, and they attract tourists with their rickshaws (now powered by bicycles), narrow alleys, and traditions. We stopped at a family home to learn that the house had been in the family for 100 years. It had an open courtyard, covered overhead by grapevines. The family also engaged in silk painting and paper cutting.

Next, lunch! And after that, our final stop for the day - a Chinese tea ceremony. They are not nearly as formal as a Japanese tea ceremony. However, we had the opportunity to try six flavors - two oolongs, a jasmine, one I have forgotten, pu'or, and a fruity flavor. I loved all but the fruity one - surprisingly, so did Richard! - and we bought a few to take home with us.

Altogether, a very full day. I was moved by the remarkable detail of the buildings and statues, and the generosity of the people.