Excursions in China
During Qingming, also known as Tomb Sweeping Weekend, (清明节) my roommate and I travelled to Beijing. Not only was it my first time in China’s cultural capital, it was also my first time learning about the traditions and history behind Qingming. In China, Qingming is a highly celebrated holiday that is held on the first day of the fifth solar term of the lunar calendar. Traditionally, this holiday is when Chinese people go to visit the graves of their ancestors. After cleaning and “sweeping” these tombs, people will leave food, tea, wine, chopsticks, and other items in the hopes that their ancestors will choose not to haunt them. Typically this holiday is celebrated more in the rural areas amongst farmers. In Beijing, we were pleasantly surprised to see several locals honoring this holiday. On our first day as we walked over to the Forbidden City it was a surreal moment to see several people burning piles of money on the street, as a memorial to people who died on that exact spot. Asides from the festivities of Qingming, Beijing in itself was such an enthralling city to visit. In comparison to the modern, fast-paced scene of Shanghai, Beijing is filled with famous political buildings, cultural sites, and historical monuments. And of course no trip to Beijing is complete without a trip to the Great Wall! Climbing up the stairs of the Great Wall was definitely one of those moments when it hit hard, “Wow, I’m in China”. I’ve probably imagined going to the Great Wall dozens of times before coming to China, but truly nothing can prepare you for that first time seeing how the wall roll up and down for miles and miles. Something I didn’t know before going to the Great Wall is that if you don’t want to turn around to get back down, there are many points along the wall where you can take a go-kart or a tobbagon to get back down. Who would predict that in 2017 you can ride down the Great Wall of China in a go kart? Another highlight from my trip in Beijing was having a traditional roast duck meal at the restaurant, Li Qun. Li Qun is famous for being an authentic, hole in the wall restaurant that serves supposedly the best roast duck in Beijng. After finding out Li Qun is also one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite restaurants, I couldn’t contain my excitement as we walked over to the restaurant from Tiananmen Square. Finding the restaurant was quite tricky because its literally situated in the middle of a local neighborhood. As we turned into a dirt road we walked past locals hanging laundry, children throwing rocks, and then all of a sudden we saw the crowd of foreigners. After waiting an hour and a half, the anticipation finally came to an end. The entire meal from beginning to end was a rollercoaster on my palette. I understand now why Beijing is such a must-go city in China.
