Day 3 in China

After eating a hardy breakfast, trying new foods like locust infused fried rice and dragon fruit, we loaded the bus to one of the city’s silk factories.  There we learned about how the silk strands are formed from the cocoons, and watched the women spin the strands on the elaborate machines.  Later we were left to our own devices to explore the multitude of products available from silk comforters and pillows to dresses, scarves, pajamas and purses.  Needless to say, most of us lightened our pocketbooks with a memory from this experience.  We then headed to the Hutong section of Beijing for a lovely rickshaw ride of this historic area.  Formerly the area that housed members of the imperial family who were not permitted to live in the Forbidden City, this quarter, marked by its one-level, gray structures now shelters middle class Chinese.  Along the way, we visited one home where a local artisan lived.  There we learned about her trade of painting intricate designs inside of glass bottles, a skill passed down through families and normally taught exclusively to men.  She learned this art from her aunt who became the chief family artisan because the male members of her clan were not interested in this elaborate craft.  Just before 11:30 we boarded our rickshaws again travel to the Drum and Bell Tower.  We mounted (or sprinted – we were running late) 75 incredibly steep steps to hear the drum concert that occurs once a day.  We heard a spectacular beating of different sized drums and took several pictures of the views down Beijing’s main thoroughfare.  After our descent (much slower this time), we climbed back in our carriages to another Hutong home to make dumplings under the instruction of our fantastic guide, Tony, and dine on another incredible meal.  Lastly we drove to our sister school in China, Dulwich College at Beijing, to tour, visit classes and reunite with our two exchange students, Amy and Emily.  These girls spent two weeks at Harpeth Hall last year.  We were impressed by their extraordinary campus and the familiarity of hearing English in each of the classrooms.  We have so enjoyed our first two full (awake) days in Beijing.  Tomorrow we look forward to climbing the Great Wall, one of the most spectacular sights in China.  We hope for good (warm!) weather although they’re predicting winding conditions.  We will be sure to layer well!