Temple of Heaven

On Saturday we went to the Temple of Heaven. There they do sacrifices to heaven to have a good harvest. After that we went to a night market and saw a lot of disgusting things. Such as scorpions on a stick alive big and small. We saw pupa on a stick. Rats, squid, octopuses, snakes, and tarantulas. We just got caramel strawberries instead. We also saw a octopus salad and almost puked. Then after that experience, we went to a book store. It was humongous! There were toys here and there. There was a huge section of Legos and 4 floors of books. Then we went home and slept.  By Duncan

 

70 Year Door

Why is it called that you ask. . .Is it because the door is 70 years old? Nope it is over 600 years old.  The Emperor at the time was 70 and needed a short cut to the Hall of Prayer for Grain due to age and health issues.  To keep his family members from becoming lazy and using his door he created a rule, his posterity 70 years or older may use the door.  Interestingly he was the only one ever to use it!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Fasting Palace

"You shall not pass!"

The boys are convinced that there are Chinese Hobbits as we regularly find these circular doorways!

Look closely, the man is holding up his hands to look at this 500 year old tree called, Nine-Dragon Juniper.  It looks like Dragons twisting themselves around each other, thus the hands.  To keep things in perspective for the boys we remind them of how old America is and then compare how old the building/tree etc. is.

Night Market pictures.

Wangfujing Street

Yes, they are still alive before being cooked, or just twitching.

The uncooked meat is squid and octopus.

Bugs and Cacoons

Hard to see but there are starfish, sea horses, huge centipedes and snakes.

Finally something we can eat, caramel covered strawberries!

Octopus salad