I am so disppointed that I didn't have my camera today on our expedition. We had a fantastic warm day with blu
e skies and headed down to Houhai to do a bit of chairskating. It's just what it sounds like...little metal chairs welded to runners. Usually one or two people (but you can get 3-4 crammed on them) scoot around the ice, propelled by....screwdrivers welded to longer metal spikes. You can see the ice bikes in the background, too--bikes welded to runners. Oh, and there are ice skaters, too--all wobbling or dodging in and out. You can get quite a bit of speed going. Imagine hundreds of kids, families, teens, all zipping to and fro across the ice, waving two foot long sharpened scredrivers. No one can stop, it's impossible to steer, and the Chinese continue to demonstrate what seems to be a complete inability to judge distance. It is so. much. FUN. Honestly, it's one of the few times I don't mind all the people crashing around and screaming. We spent a couple hours racing around and just loving the bright skies and the beautiful weather.
e skies and headed down to Houhai to do a bit of chairskating. It's just what it sounds like...little metal chairs welded to runners. Usually one or two people (but you can get 3-4 crammed on them) scoot around the ice, propelled by....screwdrivers welded to longer metal spikes. You can see the ice bikes in the background, too--bikes welded to runners. Oh, and there are ice skaters, too--all wobbling or dodging in and out. You can get quite a bit of speed going. Imagine hundreds of kids, families, teens, all zipping to and fro across the ice, waving two foot long sharpened scredrivers. No one can stop, it's impossible to steer, and the Chinese continue to demonstrate what seems to be a complete inability to judge distance. It is so. much. FUN. Honestly, it's one of the few times I don't mind all the people crashing around and screaming. We spent a couple hours racing around and just loving the bright skies and the beautiful weather. 
Then it was off to the Golden Tripod for dinner. I just lurve dim sum--we had shrimp and shrimp/chive dumplings, barbequed Sichaun pork buns, and miniature pork meat pies. The best part...no one else in the family seems to go go for these things the way I do, so I don't have to share! Cantonese food is so much lighter and fresher tasting--I think our American interpretations of Chinese food must be largely Cantonese. But Beijing does know how do do one thing and that's NOODLES. We had Sichuan noodles with shredded pork...spicy and delish. And these noodles are also super--you get a big bowl of plain noodles, a plate of julienned carrots, radishes, and celery, and a few bowls of toppings--usually a fermented bean paste (my favorite), and then some egg-y one and then a mystery meat or tofu one. You just pour on any or all and dig in. So
metimes restaurants have private rooms--they're fun and nice when the restaurant is really crowded and loud. And, you always get good value reading the menu--pigtrotters, or stuffed cow intestines, anyone? No? Maybe boiled fungus and glutinous rice? Duck feet? Maybe you can see why noodles are a tasty (and safe) bet.
metimes restaurants have private rooms--they're fun and nice when the restaurant is really crowded and loud. And, you always get good value reading the menu--pigtrotters, or stuffed cow intestines, anyone? No? Maybe boiled fungus and glutinous rice? Duck feet? Maybe you can see why noodles are a tasty (and safe) bet.I really can't recommend visiting Beijing in the winter for the most part...but if you come, chairskating is a don't miss activity--and one that isn't well-publicized in the travel books. And I just love the restaurant so it's a good excuse to get to that part of the city!
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