Hutongs and Lakes...

Day 4

Hutongs and lakes.

Had planned to go to Temple of Heaven, but woke late. Wandered out through the little streets to find crazy food stalls and a crazy Chinese fast food place, a small spicy burger type item, and fancied what looked like mushroom soup; turned out not to be mushrooms at all, but rather assorted entrails and tubes, far too recognisable to be eaten! Little shops, many silk scarves...

Hit the southern end of Qian Hai lake, and enjoyed a Starbucks Americano and cookie (felt safe and 'known') sitting in the sun by the water. People swimming!

Wandered round towards Silver Ingot bridge before branching back into the hutongs to find Prince Kong's Palace. Would have been spectacular had it not been for the hordes of Chinese tourists that filled all the acres completely. No sitting space by the walkways or in the pavilions. A beautiful green roof.

Took tea at the Family Wu tea rooms. Tea menu displayed on a yellow silk fan. Pale tea by the potful, constantly topped up, and snacks ranging from peanuts to dates with honey, small fruit sweetmeats and biscuits. Very civilised indeed.

Then back via the hutongs, getting a reasonable sense of direction, steering by tall trees!

Tim suggested the Sichuan Restaurant for dinner, famous for Deng Xiao Ping's entertaining of Edward Heath, Maggie Thatcher etc, and now situated in a modern complex.

Wonderful food, very spicy, chicken and chillis with Sichuan peppercorns adding tongue-numbing 'ma'. Tiny cucumbers with flowers, no more than 2 or 3mm in diameter, and 2 or 3 cm in length, also aubergines, and beans. And some tiny dumplings in a rich and hot sauce. My shout, cost a massive 260Y (approx £26), for two for a superb meal in a famous restaurant in Beijing. Interesting to visualise Maggie Thatcher using the 'squatters' that even this high class establishment has!

An then an exhilarating and fascinating walk back round the lake and hutongs again.will definitely go to the Temple of Heaven tomorrow, as well as a few more things T has suggested...

It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches the mice - Deng Xiao Ping

Better a communist train that is late than a capitalist train that is on time - Chairman Mao, Beijing railway station