Beijing - 17 - 19 Feb 2009

For the first time, rostering has decided that I'm a LANGUAGE SPEAKER since Beijing has been opened last March 2008. And this is my first Beijing- layover for 55 hours....Amazing sometimes how rostering works.....Well thank god, I was flying with my friend, another Malaysian who speaks Mandarin. Everyone knows how "fluently" I speaks Mandarin!!!! As Kelvin had PEK as well from 20-23, parents decided to join us as well.... Good to know that he is the staying in the same hotel as well!!! Saves all the trouble of moving luggages for parents.....

After 1 hour of power nap, went out with parents and my fren Yen Nee to Wang Fu Jing - like Chinatown in KL with lots of food in small stalls....yummy yummy..... It's freezing cold!!! -6degrees....

Day1 : Wang Fu Jing....(17 Feb 2009)

Dad and I...




Yen Nee and I.....Dad enjoying the snow at night in Wang Fu Jing still!!!....trying to capture the snow but dun think successful :)



Mom buying chestnuts at Wang Fu Jing....look at all the food...yummy yummy....most of the food items are selling at the price of RenMenBi(RMB) 5 - 10 -equivalent to RM2.5 -5



After all the temptations, we tried the octopus & also sweet corn...
Dad posing for me for a photograph....


Then time for dinner. Guess what's for dinner??? What else but the famous PEKING DUCK. Apparently there are 2 famous places to eat duck. I only had the opportunity to eat in 1 of them - QUANJUDE (as there were many branches) I had the one in Wangfujing... It was good experience as normally we thought that dinner will start around 7pm, but told by my friend that the previous time she went at 5 something, the restaurant was FULL!!! So at 4.15pm we reached the restaurant, there was already a queue infront of us...Oh my god...As the restaurant is on the 2nd & 3rd floor, at SHARP 4.30pm...the queue dashed to the lift. We were like....Is this free of charge??? Is there a need to fight for duck!!!! Hahahhaa...apparently it's a normal affair in these 2 restaurants...Half a duck goes at the price of RM50. Whole duck RM100

Address : 9 Shuaifuyuan Lane, Wangfujing St

Tel : 010-6525 3310

The other competitor is DaDong

Address : 22 Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng District

Tel : 010-5169 0328




After the delicious meal, we went to Silk Market. Didn't manage to snap a photo...It's a huge building full of small little stalls. They sell mostly clothings. Those who have been will share with you the experience that it's worse than our Chinatown. The price is soooooooo ridiculous, sometimes that you really how much is that thing worth. For example, I bought a chinese doll - those with traditional costumes) When asked the first time, he started with RM100. I went, NO WAY....RM100!!!To be fair, I bought my Japanese doll in Japan for RM50. Then after a few times of PRETENDING to be not interested - I wasn't actually, cos I was just trying my luck, she sold me at RM15!!!!! So I was told by crews to give only 10% of the original price they offered. Well I tried a few times, but it doesn't work all times, mind you!! Was scolded a couple of times actually by such a low price. That's why I mentioned, I really don't know what's the actual value of the item!!!!

On day 1, we ended with a supper outside Silk Market......
With snow outside, it's always nice to warm your tummy with a bowl of soup noodles.....

DAY 2 : Lama Temple (Yong He Temple) / Olympic Stadium / YaSiow Market (18 Feb 2009)

In the taxi going to Lama Temple..... was impressed with the touch screen interactive TV...it has places of interest, products in China - all in Mandarin of course.

Entrance to Yong He Temple. - one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Beijing....and inside the temple housed an 18-m Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take picture of the Buddha.......entrance fee is RM12.5/RMB25

Snow on the leaves....





Next, we took a train to the Olympic area. Train in Beijing is very cheap. RMB2/RM1 from any point to any point!!! But the trick is you must remember not to buy in advance ie, if you are planning to go from A to B and then B to C. Don't attempt to buy B to C ticket in A station as well. Cos the machine doesn't accept the ticket.

Olympic Park is a huggeeeee area....easily few kilometres walk....

At the train station.....



How creative are the Chinese!!!

There were still CNYear Deco when were there....Cute hoh??? Lights in the park....Aqua Stadium....The famous Bird Nest....Surrounding Bird Nest.....


We finished off the day in YaSiow Market - a Silk Market equivalent. People say that YaSiow market is more for the locals and hence, don't need to bargain so much. Yeah Right!! It's the same philosophy, they offer, u try to leave, they pull you back at least 3 times and ask you to give them the best price....hahahaha.....the only difference is there are more designs in terms of clothings i find in Yasiow...but silk market is much bigger in terms of size.....