2 J’s latest publication…available from Amazon for pre order now and bookshops from the middle of February….

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50 Gems of Bedfordshire

Introduction

The county of Bedfordshire is one of England’s smallest, occupying an area of under 500 square miles. Around 750,000 residents call the county their home, with approximately half of them living in the two largest urban areas, Luton and Bedford, the historic county town. All too often, visitors to the county do little but pass through. The county is blessed with good north to south road and rail transport links, with the Midland Main Line railway and both the M1 and A1 artery roads all aimed at travelling as quickly as possible. 

For those with more time on their hands, Bedfordshire has a great deal to offer to both the county’s residents and visitors. The county is well known for attractions such as Whipsnade Zoo and Woburn Safari Park. These are two of the UK’s bestopportunities to enjoy getting up close to a wide variety of animals on display. The county is also home to a number ofmagnificent stately homes such as Luton Hoo, Shuttleworth House and Wrest Park.

We have travelled extensively across our home county and, in this publication, we have selected fifty lesser known ‘Gems’ that we believe are worthy of a closer look. These gems have been chosen with the whole family in mind, with anyrestrictions on access for the less mobile highlighted asappropriate. From scenic walks to lesser-known visitor attractions, we hope the reader will be tempted to get to know the County of Bedfordshire a little better. This publication can be used as a standalone guide, or in conjunction with our earlier Amberley title ‘Churches of Bedfordshire’ which also explores a cross section of towns and villages with their parish churches as the focus.

We urge the reader to pay particular attention to those places featured that have limited visiting or opening hours or restricted to certain times of the year, some more so than others. An early check on the internet is recommended to ensure getting the best out of any such visit. Other selections, particularly involving the county’s many ‘green spaces’ are ideal for those spur-of-the-moment decisions. Either way, we both hope you enjoy browsing through the pages of this publication as much as we have enjoyed compiling them

Our China Holiday planning continues – leaving Beijing and exploring Xi’an -Part 1

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It’s relatively easy to get to Xi’an either by plane or high speed train. We intend to travel from Beijing to Xi’an by train. It takes between  4h 10m to 6h 45m for high-speed (G trains)from Beijing West to Xi’an North. It costs about £60 each for a single ticket. These can be booked a couple of months in advance online with Trip.

Xi’an

Xi’an is the  capital of Shaanxi Province in central China. In past times it was known as Chang’an (Eternal Peace). It is situated at the eastern end of the Silk Road’s and was home to the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties’ ruling houses.  The city is the third-most populous city in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu. Its total population is around 12.95 million. 

The City Wall 

Xian’s original city wall was started in 194 BC and took 4 years to finish it enclosed an area of 36 km sq (13.90 sq mi). During the Ming Dynasty a new wall was constructed in 1370 which remains intact to this day. The new wall and moat would protect a much smaller city of 12 km sq (4.6 sq mi). The wall is one of the tourist sites in Xi’an. 

The Terracotta Army 

Xi’an is also famed across the world for the archaeological sites found in Xi’an’s surrounding plains. This is where you find the Bingmayong (Terra Cotta Army), thousands of life-size, hand-molded figures buried with China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang  ordered the construction of the Terracotta Army and his mausoleum, just to the east of Xi’an , almost immediately after his ascension to the throne. The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife. It is said to have taken 720,000 people to build it.

The Terracotta Army figures’ excavation is regarded as one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century. It had been underground for more than 2000 years before farmers digging a well in 1974 uncovered what is now considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world.

The first part of the Terracotta Army site to be discovered was named Vault One. In 1976, two other vaults were uncovered about 20 meters away, and were named Vault Two and Vault Three.

In December 1987, UNESCO selected the Tomb of the First Emperor and the Terracotta Army Vaults as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Today the museum consists of Vault One, Vault Two, Vault Three, and The Exhibition Hall of the Bronze Chariots. The most popular vault with tourists is Vault One. This can be crowded but is the best place for photographs.

Vault One is the approximate size of an airplane hanger. It is said to have contained over 6000 terracotta figures of soldiers, horses and chariots, but today there are less than 2000 on display. However it is still a very impressive site. All soldiers and horses face east in a rectangular formation, each soldier is  armed with either a long spear or a dragger. Close behind is the main force of armored soldiers are 38 horse-driven chariots. Every figure differs in facial features, expressions, clothing, hairstyle, and stature. The scene provides a lot of  detailed artifacts in line with the military, cultural, and economic history of that period. The Vault was opened to visitors in 1979. 

Excavation and restoration is still ongoing at vaults two and three.

The museum can be found at 1 Terracotta Road, East Third Ring Road, Yunlong District, Xuzhou City.  It  takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to travel from downtown Xi’an to the Terracotta Army, which is located approximately 40 km away in the Lintong District. The fastest option is a taxi or Didi (approx. 40–50 mins)This costs approximately £12.60. Allow a half day for your visit. The museum opens from 8.30am to 5 pm. Tickets can be booked online with Trip at a cost of about £8,50 per adult . This helps to skip the line and is a little cheaper than the £12.50 on the official website. It is worth checking to see if over 65’s go free, this is the case in some of Chinas tourist attractions. We will probably take a small group Viator which includes a half day visit to the museum and a lunch with a local family for £65 for us both. 

There are also other visit options available some include making your own mini warrior to take home with you…it sounds intriguing but we prefer the family food option!

Places of interest we want to see and things to do on our proposed forthcoming trip to Beijing China…Part 4

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If you are reading this and you’ve been to Beijing please comment with any additional places to see and things to do, which you really enjoyed, so we can all enjoy your knowledge. The two activities below are two on our “must do“ list. We also want to do a rickshaw/tut-tut tour but we’ll source that when we are there.

Walking Foodie Tour

Foodie tours in Beijing, often focus on the historic hutong neighborhoods, and offer immersive culinary experiences, including evening food tours to sample local Han, Mongol, and Muslim cuisines. The tours take you off the beaten path and eat where the locals eat. They are walking tours in the oldest neighborhood of Beijing, you wander through the lively local neighborhood while sampling a delightful array of dishes, including Zhejiang Mian noodles, soup dumplings, potstickers, candied mulberries, and crepes You eat at local, family-run eateries that you would never find on your own.

Most tours last approximately 3 to 4 hours and are designed to take visitors away from tourist traps. There are a variety of prices for the tour most start around £40/£50 per person. If you want it to include peking duck you will pay a lot more. Hotel concierges can generally organise these tours or you can book with companies like Viator, or Beijing ground tour company. 

The Red Theatre Acrobatic Show

Red Theatre Beijing Acrobatics is a showcase for the best of China’s “Acrobatics”. It entertains with breathtaking acrobatics and cultural spectaculars. The show starts with Plate Spinning pagoda bowls, Jujitsu, Partner Stunts, High chair, Ballgame, Shoulder Ballet, chair stacking, and daring motorcycle acts. The acrobatic show combines traditional Chinese techniques with modern, immersive lighting, music, and dance. 

It starts  at 16:20 and 17:30 every day and last for 60 minutes. You are expected to arrive to the theatre 20 minutes before the show to get started. Red Theatre Beijing Acrobatics Address: No.44 Xingfu Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing. The cheaper seats sell out very quickly. The better seats are usually combined with either an elaborate banquet, peking duck experience or dumpling supper. A basic ticket, seat only costs about £25-£70 per adult.

Our next Places to see and things to do in China will be in Xian.

Places of interest we want to see and things to do on our proposed forthcoming trip to Beijing China…Part 3

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The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is situated in the centre  of Beijing, north of Tiananmen Square. It is the world’s largest imperial palace complex, serving as the ceremonial and political center for 24 Ming and Qing dynasty emperors from 1420 to 1924. It was the seat of supreme power for over 500 years.

The Forbidden City is a 72-hectare UNESCO World Heritage site with over 900 buildings and 9,999 rooms (according to legend) designed with strict Confucian principles of hierarchy. Today it is the Palace Museum, featuring traditional Chinese architecture, yellow-glazed roofs, and vast, historic, red-walled, wooden structures. It is is the best-preserved ancient wooden structure in the world.

The Forbidden City remains a crucial symbol of Chinese cultural history and is one of the most-visited museums in the world. As one of the main visitor attractions in Beijing tickets must be booked online in advance, often requiring 7 days’ notice due to high demand. Tickets cost about £4.60 per adult.  The main public entrance is the southern Gate of Heavenly Purity (Meridian Gate). A full day is recommended to explore the site, which includes museums within the halls.  Please note it is closed on Mondays. Lots of tours which include the Forbidden City include it with visits to other places.

Lama Temple 

Lama Temple is officially known as the Yonghe Lamasery Temple, it is Beijing’s principal and largest Buddhist Temple. In fact it is the most  renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet.

Located north of the Forbidden City, the Lama Temple  is a combination of Han Chinese and Tibetan architectural style, and was built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty as the residence for the Yongzheng Emperor when he was a prince. After Yongzheng gained the throne in 1722, half of the Lama Temple was converted into a monastery for monks of Tibetan Buddhism, while the other half served as an imperial palace for the emperors.

The temple has five main halls, it is a series of beautiful pavilions and  breathtaking statues and artefacts. It features an impressive fifty-four-foot high Buddha carved from one piece of Tibetan sandalwood.

Lama Temple is situated at No.28, Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. This popular tourist attraction opens between 9.00-16.30 and the ticket price is approx £2.60 per adult. 

Temple of Heaven 

The Temple of Heaven, is located in Southern Beijing in Temple of Heaven Park. This 15th-century imperial complex of religious buildings is where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors worshipped and prayed for good harvests. 

The Temple of Heaven became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998 because it represents a masterpiece of Ming/Qing architecture. The layout emphasizes the concept of “round heaven, square earth,” with circular buildings often on square foundations. The complex spans a 267-hectare park and is best visited in the early morning to see locals practicing tai chi, dancing, and playing games.  The park is vast; consider using a combined ticket. A ticket for the Temple of Heaven pass and an English speaking tour guide can be booked through the Klook APP  for £10.20 per adult or just a Temple of Heaven admission ticket is £2.29. 

Places of interest we want to see and things to do on our proposed forthcoming trip to Beijing China…Part 2

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Summer Palace

The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) in Beijing is a vast, UNESCO-listed imperial garden from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is located in the western suburbs of Beijing, and 15 kilometers away from central Beijing. It covers an area of 3.009 sq. km, three quarters of which is water. The Summer Palace is renowned for being one of the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China, it is regarded as a “Museum of Imperial Gardens”. It features Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake.  IT is the former summer retreat of emperors offers scenic landscapes, the 700-meter Long Corridor, and the Marble Boat, making it a premier tourist destination. 

While the cost to enter the palace is modest, about £8, the lines to buy tickets are often long and you need to carry Chinese cash. Pre-book online to gain access by Tickets QR and enjoy the imperial garden at your own pace. 

Tiananmen Square 

Tiananmen Square is an open square in the centre Beijing, it is one of the largest public squares in the world. Tiananmen Square was originally designed and built in 1651. It was enlarged to four times its original size and cemented over in 1958. It covers an area of 100 acres (40.5 hectares), and each flagstone is numbered for ease in the assembly of parades. The square gets its name from the massive stone Tiananmen meaning “Gate of Heavenly Peace”. It was first constructed in 1417, this was also once the main gate to the Forbidden City and is situated at the  northern end of the square.

On a tiered marble terrace in the centre of the square is the Monument to the People’s Heroes. The museum on the east side of the square is the National Museum of China. This was created in 2003 by combining the former Museum of the Chinese Revolution and National Museum of Chinese History. To the south of the Monument to the People’s Heroes is the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall in which the body of Mao Zedong lies in state. Further south is the Front Gate (Qianmen). On the western side of the square is the Great Hall of the People. It is the site of the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress it  contains a meeting hall with more than 10,000 seats and a banquet hall capable of seating 5,000.

Due to its immense size Tiananmen Square has been the rallying point for student demonstrations for decades. Two of the most notable were the May Fourth Movement (1919) and the Tiananmen Square incident (1989).