Feeling the Need to Get OUT of Beijing

In April we went to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, in May we went to Fragrant Hills and in June we went to Longqing Gorge.  Our goal is to get out of town every weekend but we haven't managed that yet.  One weekend we told our driver we wanted to get out of Beijing and he drove us to this ranch with horseback riding, go-carts, carnival games and ONLY Chinese.  We had to explain to Hubo that when we say “OUT” of Beijing, we sometimes mean “AWAY” from people.  Getting away from people in China is difficult but a few less than usual feels good.  

Now if the darn pollution would improve, we'd be happy to explore Beijing as there are so many things to see in the city.  Unfortunately we feel the need to escape the air quality by going out of Beijing.

Fragrant Hills

This is now one of our favorite spots just outside of Beijing.  From the top of the hill, you can see Beijing and the smog that covered it on that day.  It was so nice to take some deep breaths.  We took the gondola up to the top but most people walk up the stairs.  I love using my 3 year old as an excuse for being lazy.  ;-)  It is apparently over-the-top gorgeous in the Fall when all the leaves turn red.  We'll be back before then as we plan to take the parents in August.

Here's a few of our favorite shots from our day in Fragrant Hills.

Longqing Gorge

Thankfully Patrick purchased a dual DVD player for the car while he was in Houston this month.  After the 3 hour trip in the car on Saturday, we firmly believe that this is the best $150 we have spent in a VERY LONG time.  Longqing is only 85 km away from Beijing so the 3 hours was due to traffic, not distance.  As we are just sitting in the parking lot (that used to be the freeway), we look up and see the Great Wall. 

(Side story: When I go to the UK, I am always shocked at the number of castles as you drive around, as you walk around, etc.  I saw a castle next to a Burger King for goodness sake!  Castles of the UK are the Great Walls of China.  You’re just driving along and BAM! … There’s another one.)

We FINALLY arrive in Longqing.  We walk through the small town and follow the masses to see a DRAGON climbing up the mountain.  ONLY IN CHINA!  There is actually an escalator in the bowels of the dragon.  This dragon was the highlight of the trip for the girls.

When we get to the other side of the dam, we have arrived at the gorge.  We board a boat full of Chinese and a Chinese woman with a bullhorn.  (Remind me to sit in the back of the boat next time!)  

Lovely views to follow….

There was a bungee jumper and tight rope walker over the gorge.  Quite the sight!  We exited the boat a mile from our starting point and then we were at a loss.  Everyone was Chinese and there were no signs in English.  How the heck are we suppose to get back?  We loitered a bit at the dock hoping to see an expat to ask but we were the lone laowais in the area.  We finally had to make a decision because the girls were getting antsy.  Ok, let’s just follow where everyone else is going.  It worked!!  We made our way up the mountain (a bit of hiking), through some marketing opportunities (never miss an opportunity!) and we came out at another dock to take us back to Longqing.

After exiting the 2nd boat, we had a choice…pay to see a cave called a Thousand Flowers or pay to take the gondola over the mountain.  We thought we’d do both but it turned out the cave was just a cemented tunnel through the mountain for the people not willing to pay the fee for the gondola.  Oops!  Just when we thought we royally screwed up, there was a slide down the mountain to save us from the cemented monotony.

So let’s count the forms of transport on our little jaunt out of Beijing…car, electric car (in parking lot), walking, escalator, boat, more walking, another boat, walking through a tunnel and then a slide.  Nothing like ending your travels with a slide!