So where to start...
Karaoke
I went to sing karaoke probably 5 times while I was here in Beijing. Also referred to as 卡拉OK or KTV by the locals, karaoke is one of the most popular weekend activities for the young as well as the old. From Chinese songs such as 童话 (For more on this song see this post) to Lady Gaga (who's surprisingly very popular here in China, we sang for 3+ hours or until our throats were parched. The best part about karaoke here in China is that it comes with a free buffet! Anytime there is free food involved, I'm there.
KTV
Let's here it for New YorkBeijing Opera
In my humble opinion, not all that great. I guess it takes a more refined sense of taste than mine to appreciate, but the high pitched voices blasting through the speaker system were unbearable. Several people even left halfway through the show. Some parts of the show were cool, but all in all, not my cup of 茶 (tea).
Fa Hua Ruins and Yin Shan Pagoda Mountain
PiB took us to see some pagodas just on the outskirts of Beijing, but these pagoda were not the usual brand of pagodas you would imagine (see pictures). After appreciating the towering pagodas of the Fa Hua Ruins, we proceeding to hike up the Yin Shan Mountain. The best part of the hike was the artificially series of canals and waterfalls that ran by the path. Making it to the top of the mountain was quite an achievement as it marked maybe the second time I legit exercised in China.
The pagodas
Mini Waterfall
Standing behind the super large waterfall
Ringing the bell
At the top with 大周老师A boatload of fun. I also indulged in some American food while there (SO GOOD). Lots of posing with statues. At first I thought the government would be censoring the art, but for the most part the painters/sculptors had artistic freedom.
798 Art District
Hanging skulls. Where are the bones?
Dragons
Win
FierceTiantan
The last weekend in Beijing brought me to the temple of Heaven (Tiantan 天坛). In all honesty, it looked like Gu Gong in many aspects. The temple itself was beautiful, but the surrounding smaller buildings were merely satisfactory. A lot of shopping was done though!
The temple of heaven
Mini
Sacrificing tripod
Clay pots for burning goats
Dumpling count:308
The last weekend in Beijing brought me to the temple of Heaven (Tiantan 天坛). In all honesty, it looked like Gu Gong in many aspects. The temple itself was beautiful, but the surrounding smaller buildings were merely satisfactory. A lot of shopping was done though!
The temple of heaven
Mini
Sacrificing tripod
Clay pots for burning goats
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