Our morning's main event was a rickshaw ride into the Hutong area of old Beijing. We rode through narrow streets until we reached our destination... One group went to the home of a Chinese painting family. The other group went to the home of a Chinese paper cutting artist. We entered into a peaceful Quadrangle of small buildings that was the family compound for over 5 generations. We were able to wander through and see the homes of these families and ask questions about family life in the Hutong. Three generations live within the home we saw.
Despite the hoards of people swarming throughout the crowded city, the inner courtyard provided a quiet and peaceful family setting. We saw the workshop of the paper cutter and were able to purchase from his artistry after seeing how he did the traditional cuttings. Many of his works take him several weeks to produce. He uses a very sharp small blade and cuts his traditional, yet unique designs, working under a magnifying glass to carve the intricate details,
Afterwards, we climbed the bell tower for a view of the entire downtown area. Although it was rather smoggy, we were able to see the rooftops of the Hutongs and the larger buildings and newer high rises off in the distance. In the lower level of the tower we enjoyed a traditional tea ceremony.
A highlight of the day was our visit to a public middle and high school. First we were entertained by the orchestra students. Then our group performed for them. Afterwards, students from both groups exchanged gifts and chatted together. They were slow to interact at first, but after a few minutes, they began to loosen up and enjoy carrying on simple conversations and exchanging addresses.
The evening's entertainment included a show at the Red Theater. We saw a martial arts and dance production of the history of Kung Fu.
Tomorrow its off early for the Great Wall and a full day of events...
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