![\"Our](\"https:\/\/thehuntergatherers.id.au\/2013\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/IMG_4119.jpg\")
<\/a>Our little sleeper.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>We’re interesting aren’t we!<\/p><\/div>\n
Our first stop today was the Emperor\u2019s Summer Palace garden. The history of the last years of the Empire was quite amazing. Seems the Emperor wasn\u2019t the one that held the real power. His mother controlled everybody in the imperial court with an iron fist. When the second last Emperor died at a young age she installed her nephew as the new (and last) emperor. \u00a0The revolution of the early 20th<\/sup> century occurred when she, known as \u2018the dragon lady\u2019, lost her grip on the power. I\u2019ll be keen to re-watch the movie \u2018The Last Emperor\u2019 now that I can put it all in perspective.<\/p>\n Next stop was a short stop at the 2008 Olympic site. The \u2018Birdsnest\u2019 and \u2018Watercube\u2019 were both incredible.<\/p>\n Lauren at the Birdsnest.<\/p><\/div>\n Lunch was at a family home in the Hutong (Old Alley), transport by rickshaw. The guide explained the strict social class system in old China. The number of beams above the front door indicates your social level, which in turn determines most aspects of your life, including jobs you can do and who you can marry.<\/p>\n Next stop was the hotel for a free afternoon to catch up on postcards, washing, blogs and relaxing with a glass of \u2018Great Wall\u2019 Cab Sav.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0The overnight trip went well in our tiny little smoky smelling sleeper. The population density as you travel is incredible. There was never more than a few minutes between villages. We arrived to a cold and cloudy Beijing, with our … Continue reading <\/a><\/a>
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