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Bicycle Tour Adventure #32: China Page 18


Day 18: We Visit the Beijing Drum Tower,
Re-visit a Hutong, and See the Show:
The Legends of Kung Fu.


Bell Tower of Beijing.
Beijing Bell Tower.

Drum Tower's Drum Demonstration.
Beijing Drum Tower's Drum Demonstration.

'The Legends of Kung Fu' at the Beijing Red Theater.
'The Legends of Kung Fu' at the Beijing Red Theater.




Day 18 Begins

College Campus and what might be a Natural History Museum. College Campus and what might be a Natural History Museum.
Above: Jurassic Park - We're walking by College Dorms, a College Campus, and what might be a Natural History Museum.

A rerouted walkway for the blind. Multiple Nuts and Grains at the Market Place.
Above Left: A rerouted walkway for the blind, the strips/dashes mean to continue walking in this direction and the dots mean that a change of direction. While China is not Wheel Chair friendly it is very accommodating to the Blind.

Above Right: Multiple Nuts and Grains at the Market Place.

The Bell Tower. The Drum Tower.
Above Left: The Bell Tower. Bells are for change of guard, time (more or less), and announcements (celebrations, events, ...) - The Bell Tower is closed for repairs.

Above Right: The Drum Tower. Drums are for Warnings, fire or approaching danger (an army, attackers, ...) - Close the Gates.

Very Steep Stairway/Incline of the Drum Tower. Drum Demonstration/Show.
Above Left: Very Steep Stairway/Incline of the Drum Tower.

Above Right: We just happen to arrive for a Drum Demonstration/Show. It was percussive, loud, and lots of fun!

Early water clock. This a view of two Hutongs.
Above Left: Early water clock (timing device). Understanding and Maintaining Time was important to the Bell Tower Staff. How does one know when a Guard Shift is Complete or to know when to change the guard? This is probably one of the reasons that the Chinese invented clocks or time pieces before Western Civilization.

Above Right: This is a view to the north-east from the Drum Tower but more importantly the view demonstrates that two Hutongs once existed (a walled dwelling with a court yard, about 60 meters by 60 meters) and the courtyard has long since been converted to include multiple dwellings.

Fresh Fruit. Bicycle built for Three.
Above Left: Fresh Fruit at the Market.

Above Right: Bicycle built for Three.

Mao (Cat). Mao (Cat).
Above: Mao (Cat). We watched a little boy say, over and over, 'Mao, Mao, Mao' to the Cat.




Hutong Dwelling indicator. Hutong Dwelling indicator.
Above: Various Hutong Dwelling indicators for their royal service/trade-craft (round) and trade administration (square). Lions indicate royal blood and position.

Some of these Hutong areas are the same that we visited by bicycle two days earlier as we were cycling and not stopping for very long. This day's pace is much more leisurely and observant.

A peek into a Hutong Gate or Gateway, and the remaining Court Yard. A peek into a Hutong Gate or Gateway, and the remaining Court Yard.
Above: A peek into a Hutong Gate or Gateway, and the remaining Court Yard.

Map of Hutongs along South Lugo Lane. An interesting doorway.
Above Left: Map of Hutongs along South Lugo Lane.

Above Right: An interesting doorway.

Gateway to the Hutong Lane (South Lugo, I think). All of the taxis/rickshaws ready to give tourist rides.
Above Left: Gateway to the Hutong Lane (South Lugo, I think).

Above Right: All of the taxis/rickshaws ready to give tourist rides through the Hutongs.

Boats and Crew for hire. Rickshaws in action.
Above Left: Boats and Crew for hire on the Back Sea (a lake, I'm guessing about 8 kilometers NNE of Tiananmen Square). Also, I suspect that this is the same waterway that feeds into the Forbidden City's Moat and Golden River. Lotus plants are growing in the foreground.

Above Right: Rickshaws in action.



The Legend of Kung Fu at the Red Theater. Art at the Theater.
Above Left: The Legend of Kung Fu at the 'Red Theater'.

Above Right: Art at the Theater.

Samples of Rocks, Bricks, and Wood that were broke in two. Samples of Metal and Brick that were broke in two.
Above Left: Samples of Rocks, Bricks, and Wood that were broke in two in previous show demonstrations.

Above Right: Samples of Metal and Brick that were broke in two in previous show demonstrations.


NO PHOTOGRAPHS are allowed of the show. The Photos that follow herein are promotional photos pulled off the Internet from Ticket Sales web sites.

Story Line: A single mother gives up her only son to be raised by Buddhist Monks. The Son is cared for, educated, and taught Kung Fu (a martial art). The boy becomes a man and a Kung Fu Master. The man becomes corrupted by the outside world (Women, sex, ...). He sees the light and returns to Monk Service. Over time the monk becomes a Priest. Because of politics and an evil war invasion, the Priest is given the title and duty of War Priest, where upon he affects a plan to free the land and people from the evil invaders. The Warrior Priest Succeeds and the rest is History.




This was a superior show that could easily succeed in an International World Tour.


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