Lunch was at the Regal Palace Theatre Restaurant and was made up of typical foods; first cold dishes, then hot, then soup and then fruit. Way too much food. I tried a bit of almost all the dishes - most I liked… some not as much as others.
I think I’ve forgotten to mention that while we were all planning for very cool weather - it was hot; almost 80 degrees. We were all a bit too warm in the clothes we had packed. So the lunch and beer were a nice break. Afterwards we headed for the Temple of Heaven which was only about a ten minute drive away.
The Temple of Heaven was built in about 1440 and was where the emperor would go to pray for a good harvest. The architecture is unique in that it is round instead of rectangular. When we got to the site, Leonard told our lost guy to stick with him like ‘white on rice’ this time!
I really liked this site, especially the old trees and gardens. The temple any many of the other buildings are built only with wood (no nails, etc). The supporting columns are cut from one tree - that is why they are built in tiers; no tier can be taller that the available trees. After a couple hours here, we headed back to the hotel for a freshen-up and then it was off to a special dinner.
Dinner was at the Quanjude Restaurant for Beijing Duck. I was expecting some quaint small restaurant… this place was huge; two stories and packed with people. Again, it was served in the same courses; cold, hot, main, soup, fruit. Way, way too much food here and it was almost all duck, except for a few vegetables. Deep fried duck leg with wild pepper, diced duck with cashew, sweet and sour duck… you get the idea and those were only the pre- main courses. Then the chef rolled in a cart and hacked up the ducks tableside. This is the Peking duck we are used to - only far better than I’ve ever had at home. (Peking / Beijing… same thing different pronunciation)
While we were eating a lady in full costume came out and went up to several tables (not ours). She was surrounded by photographers and a TV camera. Naturally I had to run over and get pictures too. Our guide said she was an opera star.
We finally waddled out of the restaurant and went back to the hotel for another early start the next day.
I think I’ve forgotten to mention that while we were all planning for very cool weather - it was hot; almost 80 degrees. We were all a bit too warm in the clothes we had packed. So the lunch and beer were a nice break. Afterwards we headed for the Temple of Heaven which was only about a ten minute drive away.The Temple of Heaven was built in about 1440 and was where the emperor would go to pray for a good harvest. The architecture is unique in that it is round instead of rectangular. When we got to the site, Leonard told our lost guy to stick with him like ‘white on rice’ this time!
I really liked this site, especially the old trees and gardens. The temple any many of the other buildings are built only with wood (no nails, etc). The supporting columns are cut from one tree - that is why they are built in tiers; no tier can be taller that the available trees. After a couple hours here, we headed back to the hotel for a freshen-up and then it was off to a special dinner.
Dinner was at the Quanjude Restaurant for Beijing Duck. I was expecting some quaint small restaurant… this place was huge; two stories and packed with people. Again, it was served in the same courses; cold, hot, main, soup, fruit. Way, way too much food here and it was almost all duck, except for a few vegetables. Deep fried duck leg with wild pepper, diced duck with cashew, sweet and sour duck… you get the idea and those were only the pre- main courses. Then the chef rolled in a cart and hacked up the ducks tableside. This is the Peking duck we are used to - only far better than I’ve ever had at home. (Peking / Beijing… same thing different pronunciation)
While we were eating a lady in full costume came out and went up to several tables (not ours). She was surrounded by photographers and a TV camera. Naturally I had to run over and get pictures too. Our guide said she was an opera star.We finally waddled out of the restaurant and went back to the hotel for another early start the next day.
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