China 2006 - BJ: Hutong, Forbidden City, Chinese Pepper

Breakfast at Bamboo Garden Hotel is bad, as staff is unhelpful and obviously not accustomed to the Western etiquette of their primary clientele (assumed to be laowai, as Chinese probably don't settle for traditional hotels for this price).

Now I have to talk Chinese on my own. Nin hao, xiexie, bu yong, zaijian!

Mounting Bell Tower in the hutong right across the street. Lower floor occupied by a laowei cha establishment, full of tourists watching a theatrically spiced-up tea ceremony.
Mahjongg tables along the Beihai shore walk.



Long footwalk to Tiananmen, coughs&sneezes developing due to exhaust fumes along the way.
There are only old men at a streetside playground, obviously engaging in their morning Tai Ji Quan sessions.
Scene at a pedestrians crossing: Two waves of people facing each other and meeting in the middle of the street - one tourists, one hawkers with postcards.





The Forbidden City is under renovation, but features "4-Star toilets", I got caught for a picture with a little Chinese girl.






In the evening dinner at Fei Teng Yu Xiang Restaurant: Fresh fish ("the cook just mashed its head, right after I chose it"), tastebud-numbing Chinese pepper. Depressing information about social situation of waiters, but no tipping allowed.