Winter Holidays in China This winter, we decided to head to Beijing for our winter holiday with two of our friends- Keith and Annika.

This was our hotel in Beijing- Hao Yaun Courtyard Guesthouse The hotel was in a traditional "hutong" style courtyard residence. We had one of the nicesest rooms in the place. We visited a traditional food market in Beijing. The scorpions on this stick were alive! The chef would grill them for you. Did they just eat one...no. None of us could get the guts up to do it. Breakfast in the morning The famous Tianaman square where student protestors were killed in 1989. No...it wasn't foggy...this is smog and pollution. The entrance to the Forbidden City. The emperors lived here for many years. Visions of the Forbidden City. Our friends Keith and Annika The emperors rarely left the walled in city. "What flowers?" The moat around the walls of the Forbidden City. This is near the back gate. "I'm lost, can you help?" Christmas eve dinner in a Thai/Indian/Chinese restaurant. Decorations at our hotel We did a "hutong" tour in "pedicabs." A hotong is a walled in section of houses. A courtyard house had two courtyards. Rooms were built off each. Servants and children lived in the front and parents/g'parents in back. Coal s China's main power source, people heat their houses with this. Ice skating pictures from Beihai lake were recently in the Chicago Trib. The drum tower and bell towers (see next) would ring/beat to tell the time. This whole structure was made without nails. The one on the left doesn't seem to be enjoying hiimself. This lady taught us about the traditional tea ceremony Notice the statue is "peeing?" We had a fun afternoon ice skating. IMG_8590 This was taken at the "Summer Palace." Yep....pollution. Kristine loves her new hot pink boots she bought for the trip.