Day 5 - Chengde/Beijing (避暑山庄-Chengde Mountain Resort, Little Potala, Wang Fu Jing)

We left Beijing for Chengde on the night of Day 4 after 2 hours of shopping a XiuSui Market. Didn't buy much except for some really cute shirts and few sportswear.  Yeah, you got it.  Fake Nike and Adidas.  Hahaha....  Look equally good like the real one but not as comfy as the real one :p  

Chengde, approximately 260km northeast of Beijing, took us about 3 hours by bus.  Due to the high latitude of at least 1000m, we began to feel the drop in temperature gradually as we climbed uphill.  Having sit sandwiched between the husband and the window, it felt as if I was standing in front of a fridge stark naked right out of shower.  The coolness from outside the bus can be felt thru the glass!  I tried to snuggle up to the husband for some warm and it was futile effort. He has turned into an ice popsicle himself! Lols...

We pulled over at a humble looking little shack about 2 hours into our journey for toilet break, at the same time, enjoy some steaming hot almond tea.  Though never a big fan of almond tea, it was heavenly in that crazy weather.  I actually went for second helping and third too if remembered correctly. The shack offers a small varieties of souvenirs, almond tea of course, nuts, books and even paintings painted by school teachers/students for sale.  All proceeds were channeled to the operations of schools for the underprivileged children. 

It was so cold that I didn't even bother to snap any photos.  A part of me also worried that the weather might be too cold for my camera.  I know, it doesn't make sense.  Lols... Who can think rationally in that kind of weather.  I was literally brain freezed.  All I did was stood rooted right in front of the heater. :p  I seriously don't envy countries that have winter now (I used to be very envious)!

Finally arrived at our hotel passed midnight.  5 minutes out in the open was enough to freeze our asses off despite of properly wrapped up.  I lost count of the number of layers I was wearing that day.  Let's see, thermal wear + singlet + long sleeve shirt + t-shirt + fleece sweater + thick skiing wind breaker jacket + gloves + scarf + hat.  And all that equals to nothing standing outside for just 5 minutes waiting for the driver to unload our luggages.  Madness!  Mom was already hopping about to withstand the coldness when the husband and I got into the lobby with all of our bags.  Lols....  Her words was..."If anyone to invite me here again, I won't come even if it is free...."!  Hahahahaha....

Next morning, as we walked over to the hotel's restaurant next door, we spotted the cars parked outside was covered in a thin layer of ice.  How cool is that!!!  Hehehe... Actually, we were pre-warned on the first day we arrived in Tianjin, that the 4th/5th day would be the coldest, -8 degree Celsius he said.  As much as it was super mad cold, a part of me was rather excited about it too.  I've never experience in my entire life, a weather of below zero!  Weeeee...........................!

Check this out... smoking cold!  hahaha...

An old man selling a varieties of nuts and dried berries out of his bike's cart.

Though the sun was out, it was still freaking cold ok plus the mad wind.

The purpose to Chengde was to visit this place - Pi Shu San Chuang (避暑山庄), a.k.a. Chengde Mountain Resort, which was built from 1703-1790, for the emperors of Qing Dynasty to escape the high temperature in Beijing during summer.  The whole mountain resort covers an area of 5,640,000 sq meters and divided into 3 main areas namely :-

(1) The lakes area which includes 8 lakes that covers an area of 496,000 sq meters. - Love this picture so much!  Hmmm... the reflection in the lake, the bridge, the traces of autumn... so picturesque.

(2) The plains area which covers an area of 607,000 sq meters where the emperors held horse races and hunting games.

(3) The hills area which covers an area of 4,435,000 sq meters where hundreds of palaces and temples were built.  Yeah, that might be me in the picture or Angelina Jolie or even Mrs Beckham.  You can't really tell who is who when one is all covered up like that.  :p  Yeah, I shook hand with them.

We walked about the resorts/palace viccinity, taking in the scenery, structures and artwork there while listening to the guide telling us a little on it's history.  As usual, I am always the most far back one clicking away.  Who needs to listen when there is Wikipedia?  Hehehehe....

These woods still stand strong after more than 200 years.  Original.  Apparently they are sandal woods.  Anti-termites. They will only look more seasoned as the years goes by.

In one of the courtyard, there was a booth selling sandalwood incense.  Apparently, they are good to be used as insect repellent.  I didn't buy.  Cause:-

(1) it doesnt only repel insects, it repel me too.  I don't like the smell of it.

(2) I was too busy heating up my frozen fingers over a hot bucket of steaming hot water behind the stall.

Anyway, later on, the aunties in our group believe the original incense they bought was swapped with imitation ones when they offer to store for us while we continue to sightseeing in the palace.  Cause they said it didn't smell as nice as when they first bought them.  Whatever...! Luckily I didn't buy. :p

I know I took a lot of shots like this.  I simply love trees.  The texture of its bark.  :)  It takes a really long long time for a tree to grow this tall ok... 

Came across this really interesting doorway known as the 'concubine doorway' in one of the palace which has long been sealed off.  It's actually a backdoor to the emperor room for the concubines :o.  What happen was, the selected concubine to 'serve' for the night, would be wrapped up in silk, deliver to this doorway, get into the room, crawl onto the emperor's bed from beneath. :p  Speaking of breakfast in bed... hmmm... interesting.

Spotted this real fluffy kitty roaming around the lakeside.  So cute.  Never really like cats. But this one was too fluffy to resist. So fluffy that you couldn't quite make out where is it's head/tail right?  Hehehehe.... 

Saw the two small cans in my left hand?  Finally found a way to defrost my frozen fingers - cans of heated Nescafe!  Ingenious! Lols... 

An au naturale rock formation that looks like an emperor throne.  When the guide told us the name, all of us burst out in laughters including the kids.  She said it is called the 'Lan Jiou San'.  Over here, the word 'lan jiou' is a bad word used to curse people.  Really rough kind of bad words.  :p  'Lan jiou' = 'penis'. :p 

Spotted a bicycle with a box of these local classic candies behind it.  They are actually hawthorn fruit, all skewed up and coated in sugar.  Something like candied apple.  Only these are candied hawthorn fruits.  I had one few night before Chengde, nearby our hotel.  It didn't taste as yummy as how I remembered them from a long time ago.  This one was sour and have seeds.  Probably the season is still not quite right yet for hawthorn?

End of autumn, beginning of winter.  The botak (bald) trees are evidence of the changed of season.

We also visited the Putuo ZongCheng Temple known as the Little Potala Palace which was built in 1767 (a short drive away) replicating the original one situated in Tibet.  Even though it is just a 'Little Potala', I couldn't help but caught in awe of it's massiveness.  I may not be very familiar with landmarks of the world, but one look at this Little Potala straightaway reminded me of a certain white huge building with lots of little windows in Lhasa where Buddhist devotees goes to for their pilgrimage.  

Street vendors showing mom some souvenirs outside the temple.  I tell you, even though not interested, my mom just can't resist looking at them and will surely ask for the price.  Of course there is no harm checking out the wares and asking but they can get pretty persistent.  *headache*

Inside one of the main hall stood 3 pillars filled with engraved sutra in 4 main languages.  Again, from a long long time ago. :p  I think everything historical is from a 'long long time ago'... hehehehe...

Look familiar?

Sedan chair bearer waiting for customer.  They really carry you all the way up to the temple on top of the hill ok.  

Some photos taken to share with you how Little Potala looks like inside.

Here we gathered around our guide to listen what she have to say about the temple.  Yeah, for Chengde, we have a different guide.  A pretty hottie! :)  That is as long as she don't start talking to the locals. :p  She spoke so gently and kindly to us.  When she spoke to the locals, it was totally a different story.  The switched could be in a matter of half a second?  Amazing!  Hehehehe... speaking of two faces.

Beyond this doorway, cameras are prohibited.  Insides there were several Buddha statues believe to be from when they first built this place.

Now, does this ring a bell somewhere finally?  Look kinda familiar right?

Here's another picture that I love.  Caught while mom strolling down the stone path.  Look as if she is skipping happily... hehehehe....

These two men here was taking turn landing their hammer onto the peanut dough on top of the tree trunk.  They were making some kind of peanut candies.  Didn't buy any of that either cause I was all disgusted out by them.  While hammering, they kept spitting too.   Not directly into the dough but behind them.  Still.... traces of spit might have flown into the candies right???  Ewwww..... I tell you arr... this China's chinese arr.... they just keep spitting everywhere.  Yucks!  A real bad habit!  I've to stressed 'China's Chinese' cause I am a Chinese too.  But a Malaysian Chinese.  All chinese, except those in China, don't spit out of habit!

Bought one of these brightly embroidered bag.  It fit one novel perfectly.  Perfect for my novel when I feel like heading out to the cafe for a drink!

Special dish for that afternoon lunch was sizzling flower deer meat!  Succulent!  By far, it was our best meal in China!

General landscaped of Chengde.  Rocky mountains.

We got back to Beijing about 7ish and headed straight for some foot reflexology at this National Olympic Games energy experience centre.  I tell you, it was total crap.  So if you ever been brought to this place, just walk out.

Say only foot reflexology, but their main purpose was to sell chinese medicine.  And they are not cheap ok.  The process is like this:-

1) warm up to you with praises.

2) share their vast experiences about medicine.

3) check you out for illnesses.

4) diagnosed you with some life threatening sickness.

5) advise you to buy 6 mths supplies of their medicine and say things like you are lucky cause by fate you are there.

If you insist you don't want to buy, they will start saying things like ... "... your mental health alone is already unhealthy.  Your not willingness to spend a little for your health already prove you are not healthy/wholesome."  WTF????!  I was shocked for a moment and just gave it back to the masseurs - "If that's how you speak, you should start checking your own brain isn't it?!". :p  Most of us left the place so pissed off and we made sure the guide hears about it.  

Anyway, wouldn't let a little hiccup spoil the rest of our  trip. Booo.!  After dinner, we headed down to the stadiums arena to check out the night view of the much talked about "Birdness Outdoor Stadium" and "Cube Aquatic Center".  I couldn't quite master the art of night photography yet.  Therefore, no nice photo to share. :(

Wang Fu Jing was next.  A wide street closed to traffic, with big brands lining both sides of the shops.  Prada, LV and don't know what else.  It was here the husband who was walking about 20ft behind us got pick up by a chinese lady asking if he want any 'extra service'.  Lols...  He cooly replied her... "Yeah, sure, but let me check with my wife, my mother and my mother-in-law in front there..."... hahahaha.... The girl just walked away.  Hillarious!  So, lonely men, if you want some action, head down there!  Lols...

Even the sewage cover is extra pretty in Wang Fu Jing.  Complete with the street's emblem some more.

From the high street, we wandered into an alley selling all sort of snacks/delicacies.

And the main attraction for us was of course these... FEAR FACTOR food. :p

Scorpions (black & white ones), starfish, centipedes, cockroaches, snails, worms.... and, they are still alive skewed on those skewers.  All legs was still wriggling.  Seriously, I am adventurous.  But not THAT adventurous.  Anyone out there have tried before????  How do they taste like?  Chocolate? Strawberries?

Yup, day 5 was a long long day.  ;)  Nevertheless, fun too! :)