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I love steamed buns and was always on the lookout for vendors that looked hygienic. The place I found in Xian looked great and they had four different kinds, each with a different filling.

China 1998 - Part Three: Xian & Beijing

Dougburnett
2003-11-22 16:39:38

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I got back in and we took off for Rochelle's hotel. On the way we discussed what had just happened. I maintained that this guy, the financial controller, was trying to make off with our money. She, on the other hand, figured he had just made a stupid mistake. I'll agree, it's hard to imagine why anyone would want to rip off a measly 60 yuan but the guy said he worked with money. Is that how he does it?

After I dropped off Rochelle, I went on to my hotel, the International. I checked in, worked on my journal for a bit and I went to bed.

Sunday, April 19, 1998

First thing in the morning I headed over to the Forbidden City - home to the Chinese emperors as recently as the 1910's. The taxi dropped me at the north end of Tiananmen Square. From there it's still a good walk to where you purchase a ticket and that's were the real walking begins - it's an immense place. The first part is full of large ceremonial halls sitting in giant concrete courtyards. The buildings are closed but you can peek into the dimly lit interiors and just make out some of the furnishings. Farther on, near the back, are some smaller residential buildings - equally dark. My over all-impression was one of size. I guess that was the intention: impress the peasants and barbarians.

As this was Sunday the place was full of tourists and tour groups. They clogged all the stairs and doorways making inspecting the building more work than it was worth. They also made moving around hard. I spent most of my time people watching instead of inspecting buildings and found it was more rewarding. I was actually relieved when I reached the far gate. Well, now I could say I saw it.

The parking area was a city of a different sort - one full of shouting vendors selling post cards, bottled water and ice cream. I knew this wouldn't be the place to get a ...