After a break for recovery the journey through China continues, from its capital city. Baidu Maps tells me that it is another 3130 kilometers to Sanya. A big challenge for me and the small bike that I just picked up from the repair shop to continue the journey. If you are looking for capable people to fix a bike, the guys near the metro stop “Tiantan Park” are truely professional. The path leads across the beautiful capital city diving into the everyday life of Beijing. Instead of sleeping, I got up as early as 4 am to see the national flag rise in unison with the morning sun and to observe the early risers do their morning work out. Btw. have you ever greeted Chairman Mao sitting on a bike? Despite bicycles aren’t allowed on the Tianan Men Square itself, riding around the square is strangely allowed and definitely worth a ride.The Summer palace, which was only accessible to the emperor and its entourage, is now open to everybody, except for: my bike. I also witnessed a storm hitting the Forbidden City, that naturally cleaned the sky from dust and smog.I also recommend taking a tour through the hutong area. One during the day, and one at night. The feeling is quite different. By coincidence I went into a traditional Beijing restaurant for intestines with peanut sauce. It is much better than it sounds (and smells).Like chairman Mao said, if you haven’t been to the great wall, you are not a good Chinese. Despite I won’t become Chinese even if I do so, I still took the hard walk up. If the chairman would be proud of foreigners too?See you on the road,Your Joerg
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