We spent two weeks in Beijing. The day after our arrival, we visited Chao Yang Park (Sun Park) and rented a duck boat. Though it was quite slow, we had a blast maneuvering it around the lake. At the park, we discovered a place that Logan and Lizzy were eager to check out. It was an outdoor ropes course, but the heat made it uncomfortable to stay outside for long, so we opted for an indoor location instead. It turned out to be even more enjoyable than the outdoor ropes course because we could play with other kids, some of whom spoke a little English! The indoor venue featured a ball pit, rope swing, slides, a ropes course, rock climbing, cave exploration, an obstacle course, live human whack-a-mole, and VR experiences. We particularly loved the ropes course, and at the end, we received candy—a special pixie stick that allowed us to fill it with our chosen flavors. We also went rock climbing in the middle of a mall. Additionally, we hiked the Great Wall, but we did more waiting than actual hiking. We took the cable car up since our grandma joined us. It was enjoyable but quite tiring, and we suggest visiting when it's less crowded. Our two favorite meals in Beijing were at a hot pot restaurant called Haidilao and the famous Peking duck. To enjoy Peking duck, you create your own rolls by adding cucumbers, onions, sauce, and then the duck onto a pancake, somewhat like making a taco. One evening after dinner, we strolled along the Liang Ma River. Logan even grew some sprouts in our hotel room, which thrived while we were there. On the morning of our departure, Logan had his sprouts for breakfast. We found Beijing to be a lot of fun and are sad to leave China, but we're off to Japan!
If China can provide rapid and efficient rail service throughout its extensive territory, there's no reason the US can't do the same! Oh, I forgot! US automobile and gas companies hire lobbyists to influence our congress and politicians to persuade the public that it's not feasible or cost-effective.
We spent two weeks in Changde. It rained nearly every day, which limited our exploration more than we had hoped. We enjoyed playing at arcades, engaged in Township (a game on our phones and tablets), and went go-karting three times. The go-karts were fully electric and located inside a mall. Logan and Lizzy have been playing Township for over three years and taught Jenny how to play during a two-day stretch of continuous rain. She enjoys the game because it allows her to garden digitally while we travel. They also introduced Lutao to the game, so now the entire family plays Township together.
I recently had the amazing chance to visit the Great Mosque in Xi'an, China. It was genuinely an unforgettable cultural experience. Situated in the vibrant Muslim Quarter of Xi'an's downtown area, this mosque is among the oldest and largest in the country.
No Permanent Residence
Along the Yangtze River, there are several caves featuring Guanyin, but since most of them are inaccessible, I simply walked along the cliff.
I'm still trying out my knee, so I visited Zhou "garden" (which isn't really a garden) and Wenfeng pagoda. It was impressive but tough for me to climb.
We spent two weeks in Beijing. The day after our arrival, we visited Chao Yang Park (Sun Park) and rented a duck boat. It was quite slow, but we enjoyed navigating it around the lake.