Monday

Day 3.
First stop the Chinese Medicine research & university place. A quick overview of the principles & how each system connects to the 5 elements (water, fire, metal, wood, earth) all this whilst soaking our feet in a detox bath. A foot massage by the newer students while we waited our turn to be 'assessed' by a more senior trained doctor & his student (further through their training) got to interpret for us.
All in all I don't think many walked out without a purchase. Many, like myself, interested to try Chinese medicine on the principles it is reparative & all 'complimentary' to the body. No one is game enough to try it before getting home....a liver detox can be tricky while travelling lol

On to the Summer Palace. Being the last day of the 3 day weekend it was not as picturesque as one would have hoped. And unfortunately the AQI had risen exponentially overnight (>150 before 630am) so the blue sky blue water was not for us today. Walked a great deal of the longest covered walkway & tried to capture as many children & old people as possible. Unfortunately we didn't get anywhere near the arched bridges that are so iconic for this location. Boo indeed.

Lunch we went back to a small place for more Chinese food (I know, imagine that) before heading to one of Beijing's oldest areas - Hutong.

A precarious road crossing & made our way to the Drum & Bell public square. It's a very social place to live. Cramped (or cosy) housing allows for large public gathering places - including the toilets & showers. Some even without doors. In winter; the guide confessed, they only shower a few times a week as its too cold to do it very often.

We wandered for a bit, then pedicabbed our way to 2 local homes. The first a retired chef who now hosts tourists for meals & a man who practices the art of calligraphy. I finally got to try fruit on a stick - I chose the orange one & it wasn't too bad. Felt a little queasy - but I don't often eat that much peel & pith.

A short bus to the ?? Shopping mall area for some free time. I was made a very good offer on some embodied art - bait decided I'd bought enough on this leg of our journey. And tomorrow's flight is weight limited to just 20kg!!

Back to the hotel to pack & drink the last 920ml of baileys. Thankful for the volunteering others who helped.

*AQI on a 'good' day is less than 40 parts per square million

Calligraphy ink pot in Hutong