Enter the dragon

Beijing - the last stop with the train gang and a final few laughs including electric bike racing (44) through nighttime streets;

Bike racing with Steve & Sam

Group hat buying and an astonishing display of acrobatics drawing a local crowd and the paparazzi.

All for one hat, one hat for all

A variety of delicacies on offer at the night market

Time was fairly short, but having been here 3 years ago I took the chance to get out to the modern art district area 798. Full of small galleries and exhibitions it's a really interesting place to wander around. A couple of issues n negotiating the correct change of buses meat I got to see an area of Beijing currently under major skyscraper development


Made in China - 798 art district



World trade centre, Beijing 



Buggy



Staying near the forbidden palace I took an electric buggy (43) and got some photos in the smoggy air. Quite a change to last time with snow & blue skies. I was also comparing the guards at Tianamen Square, they seem a bit more relaxed, not everyone fixed at their post with a blank stare. But then I came accord the 'secret' police marching in formation & realised there's still a large security presence.



 



I also had the chance to visit a section of the great wall at Mutianyu. An astonishing creation, this section is a couple of hours from Beijing and quite tourist friendly with only a short, very steep, step climb. There's plenty of steps on the other parts too as you are restricted in the restored section. There's also a toboggan run (42) to get you back to the base of the hill, beats a return cable car trip.

Great wall, Mutianyu

Toboggan