Beijing Shichahai
We are half way through this fantasy when our way is blocked by a huge eagle, well a kite eagle actually. A kite is definitely one of the official toys for adults in Beijing.
Paper and silk kites are made here in this small shop. The owner, Mr Wang told me that it takes him days to make one nice kite. It's all handwork, from treating the bamboo shoots for the structure to painting the different patterns. The kites are usually flown in northern part of Beijing in the springtime. Traditionally, it's good luck to lose your kite to the wind, as people believe kites could take away bad luck. But personally speaking we wouldn't want to lose any of these exquisitely made treasures.
This is the oldest attempt of human beings to fly.
One charm about living in a place like this is that they have all kinds of little shops around the corner within walking distance.
This is a sesame-flavored pie. By the time they're ready to come out of the stove, people are already waiting.
But if you are tired of roaming around here aimlessly, there are plenty of temples and former residences of royal princes or other eminent persons to explore. And people are always happy to give directions, even the most serious-looking/busiest one. Me asking direction with an old man sitting along the road beating a little wooden drum without expression.
Excuse me, I want to go to Guo Muoruo's former residence. Do you know where it is?
Guo Muoruo is a name that thunders through the recent history of art and literature in China. At Number 18 Qianhai Xijie, you can find his former residence. Guo Muoruo was born at the end of 19th century, in 1892. He was a renowned writer, poet, playwright, historian and palaeographist (an expert in ancient Chinese writing system). The respected scholar and politician spent the last fifteen years of his life in this courtyard compound. The front yard is where he worked and met guests, while the back yard was reserved for the family.
As a famous calligrapher, and Guo Muoruo was invited to write the signs for many companies, and societies. One is probably you are quite familiar, Bank of China.
Throughout his life, the diligent and versatile Guo wrote more than ten million words worth of work - poems, historic dramas, research into oracle inscriptions, the ancient Chinese writing system, prose, analysis of ancient Chinese philosophy. He had much to say on many subjects. In the museum we read one quotation from him that is very interesting. He said his favorite number is 101, because "it seems to have a connotation of 'stopping, but not stopping; over, yet not over.'"