15.07.2019: Beijing Vol. 2

Actually, we had a day off today. But our diligent guide, Franz, organized another tour of Beijing for the committed ones.

The first destination was a hutong, one of the few remaining old residential areas in the city center. Among other things, we were allowed to visit the traditional home of a nice elderly resident of Beijing.

The Olympic Park (The Games took place in 2008) once again showed us the gigantism here: incredible dimensions and - depending on your taste - very stylish, unfortunately often with a socialist architectural touch.

The contrast program: a visit to the only Lama Temple in China outside Tibet. But here too, the world's largest Buddha carved from a single piece is on display.

The Chinese are not content without the world's largest, highest, or longest.

After 1.5 weeks of Chinese food for lunch and dinner, today we treated ourselves to a pizza outside of the official program.