TAOIST TEMPLE at Chinese New Year

During Chinese New Year is is customary for people to go to a temple fair.  

This is a small neighborhood temple where Taoist monks are still in attendance.

Smaller groups of people come to enjoy the festival.

Anciently this is when the people go to pray to the various gods for the coming new year.  People still light incense to encourage good omens for the new year.

In this temple there are 76 difference cloisters, each with a different purpose.  On a plaque outside each was the name of the 'department'.  

There is a department of lies, honesty, punishment, good deeds, and wood demons.

At the entrance to the temple there were a group of costumed actors preforming a musical comic presentation.  Notice the splits!

It was lively, loud, and funny.

The costumes were great!

Inside the temple grounds were different booths.  This is melted sugar blown with a tube into animal shape suckers.  Yumm!

This man was singing and clanging cymbols, then people sat down and peeked into the holes.  I think it was a puppet show inside.

The stone grinds wheat or corn into flour.  This child was learning about 'old customs'.

On a platform stage was entertainment.  These girls are juggling a type of yoyo on strings with handles.

The young men were so good riding on a unicycle while juggling plates, balls, and bowls.

We had a great time.

This is Chinese for Happy New Year!

Our Chinese Names

These are our names written by a Chinese calligrapher.  On the left is 'Dai Wen'  and on the right is 'Zhong Rei Kai'.  Can you guess who is who?

The small writing on the left of each sheet is the date they were written.  Underneath the date is a red seal called a 'chop'.  It is the artist's identifying symbol.  We plan to get these framed to hang on our wall.

Walking Around Beijing

Every time we walk around Beijing we see something interesting.

A brother (2) and sister (4) dressed in heavy padded winter clothing.  So cute.

Friendly shop keeper.

Two grandmothers tending twin babies, a boy and girl about 12 months old.   The grandmothers have towels wrapped under their arms to hold them up while they learn to walk. Adorable.

A narrow lane in between buildings.  I had to move over to let the bicycle pass.

An elderly man in traditional dress outside a shop.

You can often see people playing this game on the sidewalks.

Even a simple homemade broom is unique.

Izzy's Special Program

Chinese preschool Christmas nativity.

Beautiful angels.

Izzy and her friends sing about Santa.

The STAR of the whole show!

It was enjoyed by everyone, young and old alike!!

Happy Holidays to All !

Home Sweet Home Beijing

Welcome to our home on 18 Dongzimenwai Xiaojie Dongcheng District, Beijing.  It takes a good memory to know how to say or spell our address.  Our apartment building is in an embassy district and we live on the 18th floor.
This is our living room.  We are lucky to find a furnished apartment with nice furniture.
Our kitchen has full sized appliances.  We are lucky to have a great helper, Zhong Ayi.  She has worked for Americans before, and speaks very little English.  We communicate with charades and smiles.  Most Chinese kitchens are very small with 2 burner stoves, no oven or microwave, and small refrigerator.
We can look out our windows and see over our section of Beijing.  It is a beautiful sight in the morning when the sun is burning through the smog, and at night the many lights glow in the darkness.


The study is also 3rd bedroom.  The sofa makes into a bed, so we have room for you to visit.
A wonderful indoor swimming pool is in the basement.  It feels like you are in a spa.
A large shallow pool has fountains for children.  
There is a sauna, steam room and hot or cold soak pools.
We try to swim several times a week.  Come join us!

The entrance to our apartment is gated.  The men who stand at the gate are friendly and help to arrange for taxis when needed.
Mr. Huang is our driver.  He is a huge help to us.  He speaks some English and is a wealth of knowledge about the city, the history, the weather, the customs, the best places to shop, and is just a pleasant person.  We traded the car that we had when we first came for a Honda van.  We have room for you to come visit.  "Zi Jian!"