Beijing on a Bicycle part 2

The summer palace was another interesting journey I went on while riding a bike in a random direction for fun. Because that is a thing I just do, explore, take pictures and have a great time. There are two places to visit when going there, first is a red leisure building. With a big open lot right after the gate, where my bike was totally out of place but had the whole are to itself. Further inside the lot I came to a red temple like building with a lovely koi carp pound with hanging weeping willows touching the surface. In front of the pool they serve tea, at a very steep price. I dare say its the most expensive cup of chamomile tea I have ever had in my life. It tasted okay, but in the end it was a regular cup of tea with refill. The establishment also allowed tourist to pay to pay for carp food, to feed the inhabitants of the pool with. At one point or another a family dropped by and the kids got a bit rowdy with the fishes it seemed and the mother somehow caught one with her hand when the staff was distracted. 

The fish died, though and she just quietly slipped it back into the water belly up. Unfortunately they did not like the idea of taking pictures inside the leisure hall so I have none of that. From what I can gather it was intended as a tea and scenery location, where the lord could paint or write poetry. I did not inquire too deeply into the purpose of such a lavish building. Another notable construct nearby is the stone boat which probably don’t float. This one is a case of you can watch but not touch. Not that the gray worn out building gave the impression of safe place to be. Then again it seems like most traveling people in china does take a lot of stupid risks here and there. Such as the man regarding the stone fence. 

While cycling along rural roads I also encountered seemingly mundane and ultimately forgotten thing very few will ever notice. Such as the wild growing cucumber hanging from a branch, or a tiny cramped cart with poultry. At one point I even found a Venus from Milo knockoff sculpture in the middle of an overgrown intersection, next to a traffic mirror. I get the distinct impression that maintenance is not very high on the list and thing just happens here and there and no one cares. This is especially true with some of the broken houses I bypass. Where its obvious that people live, but the walls are missing and the fence is just stacked bricks.

Beijing on a bicycle part 1

Trough Beijing on a bicycle was a very unique experience indeed. Norway has fairly strict traffic laws regarding traffic and very expensive drivers license test. The ability to cause a traffic jam on a three line road is absolutely mind boggling . Then again the one next to the pavement work as a parking spot, bike lane and the place where dangerous bus drivers stop. First of all never get a bike with no gears, dirt cheap from a local dealer. Especially the one residing on the Beijing sports university campus. Not only are they worn, weather logged and crap. They are horrible at getting up slopes. Yet i brought the bugger all over the place, through most of Beijing, Probably why I screwed up my knee in the first place. Anyhow, further down the street there where several legit bike shops, with better products. As far as transportation goes, any kind of vehicle is recommended, el bikes is a popular pick. Most of the city is just a series of big squares with houses on them, big boring blocks, with little or no personality. The outskirts on the other hand got some really nice rural spots, ruins and various other  places to see.


One of the places I went by I got greeted by a guard dog, it was a nice dog doing its job. The most remarkable part of the lot was the giant fence, grid structure. Essentially the place looked like the owner was trying to recreate the thunder dome. Surrounding the lot was fencing composed of rusted metal plates, the type that goes onto roofs, topped by several meters of metal grids. I suppose its made of the metal scaffolding going inside concrete buildings. Amusing but I did not dare to overstay my welcome. Never mess with barking dogs and angry owners. By following the stone along the drainage canal, I also came across a overgrown grassy lot, littered with stone ornaments. Mostly those Chinese lucky lions, with the curly eyebrows resting their paw on a ball.

The path also took me to some sort of ornate temple, probably belonged to someone important at one point or another. The place itself was remarkable, there was a big pole with cloudy patterns on it reaching for the skies with a lion on top. Outside the place was also a big dried up and worn fountain. Next to the stairs was several of those concrete lions, the ones with bushy eyebrows, whom rest their paws on balls. The place was clearly being used by someone judging from the laundry hanging to dry outside, in between the two staircases. The car was also a telltale sign. However I still enjoyed the scenery and the novelty of the site. Further down the road was a bridge, where someone hid a bike and in all likely hood a mattress as well. Some people are poor and some just like to rest during the day. But staying next to the aqueduct during the evening I would not recommend. The mosquitoes are vicious big and very intrusive, I know this because they kept assaulting my at night, at the forth floor. Plus I tend to run into swarms of those when cycling forward and unlike a car I did not have a wind screen.


Despite the shallow water and the likely hood of pollution, some locals where actually fishing up fish from the river, I'm quite surprised that none of those had three eyes.

#beijing #journey #travel #zaceron #beijingpictures #china #bike #bicyclechina #