16 November 2011
Qianmen and the railway museum
Honestly, I did not plan to go to ANOTHER museum today, I had no idea it existed but happened to stumble onto it.
I did intend to go to Qianmen, which is a restored (largely rebuilt) street behind Tiananmen square. It was actually very nice despite the fakeness.
Strangely theres a large Taiwan town area down one side, actually called Taiwan, I thought that name was not used within China, during the olympics they have insisted that Taiwan only be named Chinese Taipei. Not only does Taiwan town exist, it is right next to Tiananmen square and the corpse of Mao himself.
I guess not everything we hear in the media about Taiwan and China hating each other is true, I got that impression when I was in Taiwan also.
I have another top tip, it infuriates store owners. Bargaining is required pretty much everywhere in China, if they say 100, offer 10, you might end up somewhere in between.
Instead of persevering with this time consuming method, which involves a big calculator you both type on, I much prefer my new method.
Locate a busy store, one with more than just western tourists in it, it needs to have Chinese people who dont need to type numbers on a calculator to bargain.
Hang around near where what you want to buy is and pay attention.
Wait for a Chinese person to bargain on what you want to buy or something like it, listen in, you want someone who gets into a heated argument with the store owner.
Once the transaction is done, follow them to the cashier and observe the price paid.
Grab hold of the guy that sold it to them, lead them back to what they just sold, type that exact price into the calculator, they will realise the gig is up and give it to you for that price.
Enough text onto the pics, I added too many today.
This is part of the line of people waiting to shuffle past the rubber / fake body of the beloved chairman. Access ends at 12 because they need to rejuvenate the body for a few hours each day with fresh fluids and make up.
The photo isnt great, but its a group of people from Mongolia or Tibet, wherever it is they like to wear colored head gear.
The entrance to Qiananmen street restored shopping district.
The nicest starbucks I have ever been to, its 4 levels high, and I think a real building with real hardwood throughout. I am convinced its real because going up the stairs the ceiling is too low to stand up straight.
Alleyways leading off the main street are long and interesting.
Theres definite fake elements to it, parts seem like a hollywood movie set with facades standing up with nothing behind them yet, then theres parts like this which are abandoned or brand new or both.
The further south you go, the less crowded it becomes. Theres tram lines, and a 'tram' runs along it, but its actually a natural gas powered bus, complete with a fake electricity collector thing sticking up at the top with no wires above to get current from.
These pipes run behind the shops for the full length of the street. I dont know what they are for, I thought air comditioning but they dont seem to pipe back into the stores anywhere.
This is part of Taiwan town, which is as much underground as above ground. Its set up to be a very big night market. Its mostly shut now so I think I will have to go back tonight.
Some of the more authentic buildings back near the start of the street.
The rather unimpressive looking railway museum, turned out to be great.
The ground floor is the most boring floor in the museum, this huge machine is not a steam engine, its a ticket stamping machine. It seems they used to issue tickets on metal dog tag type things.
The easy to miss basement is where its excellent. This is a big topographic sculpture of the Beijing to Guangzhou high speed line (I am not sure its operational yet?). The actual model is white and somewhat reflective, and top mounted projectors shine excellent graphics onto it. Behind it theres a very wide screen that shows everything cool you might see along the way like bridges, stations, monuments, mountains etc. Very impressive set up.
Looking down at the 3d model described above, an example of what gets projected onto it. It changes seasons, and day to night etc.
Next up, a more standard model of the Tibet railway, but look how big it is! Lots of info on the video screens behind it of how it was built on the permafrost.
I headed back to Taiwan town for lunch, heres part of the underground bit.
But I actually ate at Mr Hongs Chefs table. I bought the deluxe soup and it was great! Big slices of meat rather than small cubes, better flat noodles, highly recommended!