Last week we went on holiday to Beijing.We had never been to China before, so we were both very excited about spending a week there, and about me having a week off from work.We arrived on the Sunday evening and took a taxi to our hostel.The airport taxi system was very well organised, and they all have meters, so you don't have to worry about being ripped off.In fact, our taxi cost about half of what the hostel had quoted us it would cost (about 7.00GBP).We were approached in the airport by a 'private company' who said they could take us for 40.00GBP, but we were wise to this after our time in India last year, and took the government approved taxis instead, who since the Olympics in 2008 have all had to have meters installed.Our taxi took us to the side of a main road, and then stopped.The driver did not speak English and we could see no sign of our hostel.The area seemed pretty deserted, and we worried we were in the wrong place, especially with the price being much cheaper than we had expected.However, after Graham getting out and talking to a guy nearby, he found that we were in the right place, and that our hostel was set back from the street.I think we were so surprised that the streets were pretty quiet.I had been expecting it to be more like Delhi, with people, vehicles and animals everywhere!That evening we took a walk around our area, down some alleyways of market stalls and into one of the main shopping areas.We got our bearings, and booked onto a trip to the Great Wall the next day, as this was one of the main reasons for our trip.

We got up very early to take a 3 hour bus ride to the Great Wall.We had chosen to do the Jinshanling wall trip, as this part of the wall was the furthest away from Beijing, therefore there would be less people there.The hike was also more challenging and longer than the other trips, and we would get to see some of the oldest and unrestored parts of the wall.When we arrived we took a cable car up to the wall, and then had a few hours to explore at our own pace.We decided to try and make it to nearly the very end of the part of the wall which was open to the public, as few people made it this far so we knew we would get some great pictures.We also knew there were some inscribing's in one of the towers, of the names of some of the soldiers who had died making the wall, so we wanted to see this.The hike was really quite difficult, as it was so steep in some parts, and there were so many steps.We only did about 4km, but it felt like 20!It was such an amazing feeling being there, but a shame that the smog spoilt some of the views.It's an experience we shall never forget.That evening we were exhausted, but luckily there was a Moon Festival party in our hostel with free food and half price beer, so we didn't need to venture too far.The bar was very busy so a German couple came and sat with us, which was great luck as we soon became good friends and spent much time with them through the week.

The next day we went to visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, as they are next to each other.There is nothing really spectacular about the square, just one monument, a flag, and the construction of what looks like a giant red ball.There is nothing to commemorate the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, or even any information about this, as it is something the Chinese want to brush under the carpet.The National Museum of China is next to the square and there is a Memorial Hall at the back of the square which houses the preserved corpse of Chairman Mao (Mao Tse-Tung).This is only open in the mornings for viewings of his body, so we missed the opportunity on this day.We spent the day in the Forbidden City - which for some reason they let us in for 1.00GBP each instead of 6.00GBP (maybe we looked poor!)It's huge and impressive, but to be honest after a while the buildings all started to look the same.It was great to see it though, and strange to think that for so many years the Chinese people had no idea what this place looked like inside.I guess it's like what Buckingham Palace would become if the British monarchy was ever over overthrown.The best part was towards the end, when we reached the gardens - they were really beautiful.After we left the city, we visited the park behind it.This is set on a hill so gives you great views over the Forbidden City - well it would if there wasn't so much smog!!

That evening we took a walk down some of the Hutongs (alleyways).These are all over Beijing and have lots of small shops and cafes down them.They also have blocks of public toilets, as the cafes don't have toilets.Whilst this is convenient, and something we are used to in Korea, what I'm not used to are communal toilets.I did experience them once before in Vietnam, but I managed to wait and find a private cubicle toilet.However all of the public toilets that I could find down the Hutongs were one room with a few holes in the ground, with no partitions, where everyone did their business together!I was desperate, so I had to do it!We did find an amazing café down one of these alleyways though, which we then went back to nearly every night.It was the only place with pictures and prices on the walls, and the son of the family spoke some English, as did his mother.They saw us looking at the pictures and came out to ask us to come in and try their food, so we did.They were so friendly so we gave it a try, and the food was amazing and so cheap.Our meals and beers usually cost between 3.00 and 5.00 for the two of us!The beer was only 40p for a big bottle.

In the morning we arranged to meet out German friends Daniel and Astrid, so we could all go to the Summer Palace together.The subway system in Beijing is really easy to use and so cheap - less than 20p per journey!They have a lot of security checks though.Every time you enter the subway you have to put your bags through scanners and the same when you enter Tiananmen Square.It seems strange that they have not introduced this at the London Underground.The Summer Palace was beautiful, particularly the garden of Harmonious Pleasures.We also hired a paddle boat on the lake for an hour, which gave us some great views back to the Summer Palace - through the smog again!

That evening we went on an evening tour of some of the main sites that were lit up at night.We booked this through our hostel, and we were the only two on the tour, so they took us in a car with our own driver and a separate guide.It was nice to see much of Beijing, as the subway is convenient, but not scenic!First we went to the Olympic Village.We saw the 'Bird's Nest' stadium, and the 'Bubble' building where they held the swimming events.Both of these buildings were amazing to see at night, and the 'Birds Nest' was probably one of the highlights of the whole trip for me.Next we went to Hoihai, which is a manmade lake that was made many years ago so that goods could easily be delivered to the Emperor.This is now a popular tourist area full of bars, restaurants and gift shops.We then drove to the National Theatre for Performing Arts.This was built in 2008, as well as the Olympic buildings, and is an impressive giant half egg shaped building which lies on a lake giving the reflexion of a perfect full egg.Actually at night it is all lit up, and looks more like a huge UFO!Following this we ended our tour at Qian Men Dajie, a shopping area with many historic buildings, including one of the original towers from the Great Wall.

On Thursday we went to visit the Lama Temple.This has many great buildings with lots of Buddha statues inside, one being 26 metres tall!Along with the many tourists visiting the temple were many Buddhists, praying and burning incense.All the shops nearby were selling incense sticks by the bucket load, and offerings for you to take the temple - they were making a fortune!Later we went to the Silk Street market.This was a huge indoor market that sold everything counterfeit.It was a little like being back in India, as every stall owner wanted to bring you into their store and sell you things, and they started at ridiculously high prices.I don't mind bartering, and actually quite enjoy it usually, but this was tedious.They would start the price so high that bartering took such a long time and so much effort and arguing that we hardly bought anything.

The next morning we had arranged to meet our German friends very early to go and see the flag raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square.This happens every morning and evening but we had heard the morning would not be too busy, as it was at 5.50am.Well, it was pretty crowded when we got there.We did not see any other westerners, but there were plenty of Chinese people there waving flags and eager to see the soldiers march from the Forbidden City, over the road and raise the flag.After this we went to the Temple of Heaven and surrounding gardens.The gardens were full of Chinese people exercising.Some were dancing, some doing Tai Chi, others playing badminton and various other sports which we had never seen before, including some men hurling a heavy cloth bag to each other!We then went to the Pearl Market to try our luck for bargains again.The prices here were a little more realistic, and easier to barter down, so we bought some more clothes, jewellery and gifts.After this we were exhausted so went for a nap before venturing back to the Houhai bar area that evening.We strolled down the small shopping street, browsing freely here with no hassle, and buying a few more gifts.We then stopped in a bar for a couple of cocktails before heading back to our favourite little café near our hostel.On this night we arrived there late for dinner, and the family were all sitting around eating.They saw us and told us to come in and the husband was sent to the kitchen to make our food!After dinner they brought out a cake and told us it was the Grandfathers Birthday (I think he was 68) and that we must stay and eat cake with them - so we did!It was a really good cake, and was nice to be treated like part of the family.

On Saturday went decided it was time to go and see the corpse of Chairman Mao!We had been talking about whether do go or not all week, so we headed back to Tiananmen Square.When we got there though we soon changed our minds, as we saw the hundreds of people queuing to see him.It was a hot morning and neither of us wanted to find the end of the queue, which was way out of sight, so we went to the National Museum of China instead.This was free to enter, but to be honest, I would not recommend it.The building is impressive, and there was one big hall with many paintings of Chairman Mao, and a few nice Buddhist statues but apart from that the rest was pretty boring.They also had exhibitions about other countries, which seemed strange in the National Museum of China, and were all about countries I'd been to before.So, after a very quick look around the museum we stumbled across a park next to the Forbidden City called Zhongshan Park.This was only 20p each to enter and had a beautiful lake, statue and many monuments.We had arranged to meet our friends later that afternoon at an Underground City, and we got very lost trying to find it.Eventually we met someone else trying to get to the same place, and we found it hidden with no distinctive sign or notice outside, but it was closed.There was a man inside the booth, but he spoke no English except the word 'closed' so we do not know if it was closed permanently, or just for that day.So, we went for a walk with our friends and then to dinner, and eventually back to the hostel bar where Daniel taught Graham how to play Chinese Chess.This was our last evening in Beijing, as our plane left early the next morning.

We had a great holiday, met some great people, and loved China.We felt like a week was enough in Beijing, but we'd like to go back to explore more of this vast country in the future.

Maggie x