There is just so much to capture in Beijing photos that I just can’t do it justice in a reasonable amount of posts. So hang on to your hat and get ready for a whirlwind photo tour of Beijing – the rest of our favorite sites (although I did save a few for tomorrows China summary post):
We had lunch with a local family in the Hutongs. This man cooked our delicious traditional meal of rice, various stir fry dishes including chicken, vegetables and another unknown meat plus the best ever sweet and sour pork from a recipe handed down from his grandfather who cooked it for the Emperor. After lunch we learned how to make dumplings and were shown the kitchen. In the Hutongs, houses are a living room bedroom and kitchen; everyone uses public bathrooms.
We climbed the 63 steep steps to the top of the drum tower to watch a drumming ceremony. It was loud, but really cool.
We stopped at the Olympic park to take photos of the "Bird's Nest" 2008 Olympic stadium.
Our guide Alex called this a "bar" road; it was part of our Hutong tour.
Beijing- Confucian Temple
There was a department for everything at Dong Yu Taoist Temple, and each had it's own room. This group is the "department for implementing 15 kinds of violent death."
Plus we visited a cloisonne factory (all hand made), went to Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Wangfujing Street, Lama Temple, had a rickshaw ride, and visited a Chinese Medicine Doctor. However, of all the things we did in Beijing, climbing the Great Wall was my favorite.
All photos on this page © Rhonda Albom 2012
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Travel Counter: We are in week 4 of our 250 day overseas adventure.
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Travel with us as we laugh our way around the globe. I am Rhonda Albom, wife, mom, photographer and blogger, sharing the lighter side of our traveling family's life with two teens. 
You lucked out in your hutong lunch spot – to have someone whose family cooked for the Emperor is awesome. I bet it was really tasty!
Elyn MacInnis recently posted..Happy Passover in Chinese
I know. He was so humble too, he didn’t tell us until we raved over the dish. It was really good, lucky Emperor
Only 15?
Lynne recently posted..A Short Stay In The Blue Mountains
There are 77 other departments
I love China but I have never been there.. I think a lot of people would want to go there too.. Thanks anyway!
Kathrryn recently posted..bed and breakfast Paignton seafront
Thanks Katheryn, and welcome to Laugh Quotes.
I am so jealous! I wish I ever had the chance to visit the Olympic village. My husband is an architect, he has told me so many times about those architectural wonders, just like the nest on your photo which was designed by Herzog and deMeuron from Switzerland…
Amy recently posted..Considerations of Getting Your Tooth Implants
I almost didn’t add the photos here, now I am really glad that I did. Thanks Amy.
I’m so glad you’re having a wonderful time! The pictures are amazing and the girls look like they’re enjoying every minute! I’m sure that they especially appreciated the Olympic Village!
Julie recently posted..The Rituals of Getting Ready
LOL – Beijing was summer Olympics
It all sounds brilliant. I am sure it’s going to seem really strange when you hit Europe and find proper toilets etc.
Tony Payne recently posted..Funny Garden Bird Feeding Station Review On Amazon
I found one today! Clean, western (sit down) and it had toilet paper. It was wonderful
“department for implementing 15 kinds of violent death.” LOL…they were creative fo sure
Cindy recently posted..Car Seats
LOL, creative is a great word for this temple. Welcome to Laugh Quotes.
I’m so jealous you get to do this, I would love to travel all over & how did you come about getting invited to a local’s house for lunch? That was so nice of them (& very trusting of you)
I’m just terrified of ‘seeing’ the credit card bills and all that between the hotels & plane alone. LOL me I’d have to bring an extra bag (or find a P.O. in each town to mail stuff back home!
Kim recently posted..Avatar Awards 2011 updated Fri Feb 10 2012 5:35 pm EST
We used tours by locals and our guide arranged for it.
My credit card bills are pretty scary, but we have been saving for this for 10 years.