Today is Sunday. We spent the day touring around the back alleyways (hutongs) of Beijing. With our guide, Jin, we wandered part of the Back Lake region near the Forbidden City, had lunch (an array of snacks) at a lovely little local cafe. We then continued on to a number of Hutongs and tried a variety of little snacks local to the area and further afield. We ended at a Taiwanese Tea House, where we sampled a few other specialties, including fruit drinks and a treat that resembles yogurt (Wen Yu Cheese) but was way better. It was a fun day, although, it shouldn't be a surprise anymore, but it was HOT. Julia and I splurged on a taxi home while Jeanne and Olivia explored and shopped. The hutongs, in and of themselves, were an experience we were glad to have seen. They are still inhabited with many, many families who often share community bathrooms and kitchens. Because of the location near the lakes and the palaces, the real estate is incredibly valuable but the residents live very meagerly. There is a definite sense of community. Some of the hutongs are filled with lovely little shops and others are more "rustic." Either way, they definitely have character. I will post some photos. |
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