HONG KONG AND BEIJING

The journey through South China Sea which took 2 days was by far the roughest of our trip and according to the friends on board and the Captain, this always is the case.

Sailing into Hong Kong harbor is beautiful, the skyline very impressive.  As both Anči and I had been there, we did not tour the city.  There was a beautiful dinner and show at the Four Seasons for the “World Cruisers” which we thoroughly enjoyed.  We spent a lot of time shopping, clothes, shoes, underwater camera etc but our major food and wine purchase :

A Magnum of “Ducru Beaucailloux, 2009”, my all time favorite wine 

Best described in : 

http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-136-2009-chateau-ducru-beaucaillou-saint-julien-france

and 2 kilos of my favorite cheese : “Reblochon”

Reblochon is aged in cellars or caves in the mountains. The cheesemaker turns the cheese every two days and washes it with whey in order to speed the aging process. Reblochon has a creamy, softer-than-Brie texture; a nutty after taste; and a strong herbal aroma that is not for the timid.

We left the ship, and flew with 9 others passengers to Beijing.  A beautiful well organized modern airport, and our bus and wonderful guide are waiting for us, no customs, no suitcase to care for, Silversea excursions treatment.

A royal welcome  in the heart of Beijing

We stayed at the  China World Palace

                 (Shangri-la),

one of the most beautiful hotels either of us have 

ever been in. 

The welcome party of the hotel was spectacular, a cute (fake) Koala bear to hug us. 

Our boat guide and local guide were so organized at the airport and the hotel; all we had to do is watch our suitcases being taken care of and get on the bus for an exciting visit of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

   

The fog and the smog was awful and it was extremely cold but we were overwhelmed by the size of both.  Silversea had a special permission to visit a non-touristy part of the Forbidden City with a historian professor of the University of Beijing.  What an invaluable special treat and the beginning of a learning experience about old and new China

We are so excited, we will go and see one of the 45 UNESCO World heritage sites in China.

Check the following site to know more about  UNESCO : http://whc.unesco.org/en/convention/  

We are clicking on our "bucket list".

THE FORBIDDEN CITY.

We couldn't help but remember the famous movie : 

The Last Emperor (1987), Director : Bernardo Bertolucci Below are two videos of our tour inside the Forbidden City

A little information about the Forbidden City:

 The common English name, "the Forbidden City", is a translation of the Chinese name 

 Zǐjinchéng; literally "Purple Forbidden City".

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. 

Jin, or "Forbidden", referred to the fact that no one could enter or leave the palace, Cheng means a city

It is located in the center of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum.

For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.

Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 720,000 m² (7,800,000 sq ft).

Visiting this incredible complex and although we thought we knew what to expect, was a revelation in size and beauty.

Before going back to the hotel, we had to see this "big" famous square.  Much larger than expected, totally under surveillance and very well maintained

.

That night after a long day, we had quick dinner in the hotel. Most of all a good rest for the visit of the Great Wall, the Ming Dynasty tombs and more of the city the next morning.

                                   

The second day the sky was blue !
 Traffic is heavy but organized, useful overhead information about congestion and the Police are watching!

Chinese like to eat underway, streets are full of vendors and the food looks mostly "interesting"

A few oddities, different way of transport for people and goods.  The always present caged birds, some useful language and the "french" imported toilets.  

And off we go to see 
the Great Wall.