Day 1
Arrived on time after cramped flight, to Bamboo Garden Hotel, lovely room, tree with unrecognised orange fruit right outside my window; tried not to sleep! Lunch in hotel, probably a mistake as expensive. Arranged hotel in Chengde, and booked train tickets, seats not sleeper, cost around 40Y.
Wandered out to Drum Tower, nightmare crossing roads. A hundred VERY steep stairs for murky view of Forbidden City, and some massive old drums and other forms of timing.
Crossed road, and then back again to find some silk scarves, and then back again to get to lake Houhai. Old shopping street leading to lake, couldn't resist toffee 'apples' on sticks. Not actually apples, several stones in each!
Rickshaw man saw me coming, but was fun driving round the hutongs, visited a courtyard house, saw the 'Hutong Pizza' restaurant.
Wandered back to hotel, a little lost at the end, friendly people, helps to have hotel name written in Chinese. Peckish so ventured out again for kebabs from hole in the wall, then more kebabs and brown sugared salad in wooden shack with red lanterns. Oh, and a beer.
Found way back just fine, and slept.
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