Dear Air Canada desk at John G. Diefenbaker Airport:
In 2017, a 72-hour Chinese Transit Visa was a “real thing”.
Yours truly, 30 Seconds of Research
Ok, so we had a minor hiccup before our flight to Beijing, but once there, it was nothing but Great Walls and colourful cocks!
It was the Year of the Rooster, and honestly, they were everywhere! It was beautiful.
And everyone loves a rooster …unless you’re another rooster.
We quickly fell in love with the city—the traditional hutongs (narrow alleyway residences), the parks, the temples, and the street food.
Having said that, the food at touristy areas is very subpar and should generally be passed over for the tasty gastronomical delights of two blocks away.
Let’s focus on the temples of Beijing for a moment.
They are stunning and worth a quiet, reflective visit. Whether you are contemplatively making your way down the Eightfold Path to enlightenment or just out for a stroll, these architectural masterpieces are a marvel to behold.
Some of our favourites were the iconic Temple of Heaven, the Lama Temple, and the Jietai Temple.
Then you have several more stops: the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall—all of them wonders in their own right.
Now, we should probably mention that sufficient heating DID seem to be an issue in many public buildings, as many doorways were without… well… a door (framing instead, a heavy blanket or a few plastic strips that did very little to keep the cold from crawling across our toes).
But let it here be said, that we were warmed by the Chinese people’s kindness and generosity that was frequently shown and unequivocally heartfelt.