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BRUNO MAESTRINI

Multimedia Journalist
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    • Maracanazo Argentino
    • BBQ on the Leather
    • Beijing Opera
    • Yerba Mate
    • Japan Tsunami
    • Mengxing's Quest
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Man tries to keep up running in front of a woman "chair skating" to get a picture

Man tries to keep up running in front of a woman "chair skating" to get a picture

Skating on a chair: a cold afternoon in Beijing

January 09, 2016

On this cold Saturday afternoon I decided to go for a walk in the historical Gulou (Drum Tower) and Houhai (Rear sea/lake) area of Beijing and take some pictures of daily life. 

In the hutongs, the small alleyways in historical Beijing, it very common for tourists to go on rickshaw rides and get to know this neighborhood. Today was a slow day, so this guy was taking a nap. Careful when setting a price, they do try to overcharge foreigners and sometimes try to charge a different amount from what was settled in the beginning. 

In the hutongs, the small alleyways in historical Beijing, it very common for tourists to go on rickshaw rides and get to know this neighborhood. Today was a slow day, so this guy was taking a nap. Careful when setting a price, they do try to overcharge foreigners and sometimes try to charge a different amount from what was settled in the beginning. 

Further down the hutong I ran into these guys taking a nap. At least they were in the sun.

Further down the hutong I ran into these guys taking a nap. At least they were in the sun.

Before going to the frozen Houhai lake, I decided to make a stop at the Drum and Bell towers, used to keep the official time of the empire from 1272 all the way to 1924. I had been there several times before, but I just don't get tired of this site. In the future I will dedicate a post just to these two great sites.

The Bell Tower which was built in 1272 during the reign of Kublai Khan, the first Yuan emperor, was used for time keeping purposes.

The Bell Tower which was built in 1272 during the reign of Kublai Khan, the first Yuan emperor, was used for time keeping purposes.

View of the Drum Tower from the top of the Bell Tower. In the back, to the right, you can see part of the frozen Houhai lake.

View of the Drum Tower from the top of the Bell Tower. In the back, to the right, you can see part of the frozen Houhai lake.

Guard keeps a close eye on us. In the back, the Drum Tower, in the foreground, the bell itself.

Guard keeps a close eye on us. In the back, the Drum Tower, in the foreground, the bell itself.

This is what the hutongs look from above. You can see a lot of modern influence. On the bottom left you can see a flock of pigeons on top of a pigeon cage. It's not uncommon for older residents of the hutongs to raise pigeons.

This is what the hutongs look from above. You can see a lot of modern influence. On the bottom left you can see a flock of pigeons on top of a pigeon cage. It's not uncommon for older residents of the hutongs to raise pigeons.

The inside of the Drum Tower. From time to time a group of performers come and show their drumming skills.

The inside of the Drum Tower. From time to time a group of performers come and show their drumming skills.

View of Beijing to the south, from the top of the Drum Tower. In the center, far away, is Jinshan park, which stands exactly in front of the Forbidden City (technically oHbehind, but not from this point of view).

View of Beijing to the south, from the top of the Drum Tower. In the center, far away, is Jinshan park, which stands exactly in front of the Forbidden City (technically oHbehind, but not from this point of view).

Houhai lake from the top of the Drum Tower. If you look closely you can see the people skating.

Houhai lake from the top of the Drum Tower. If you look closely you can see the people skating.

Tons of people would "line up" (I use quotes because standing in line is not something people actually do here in China. It was more like piling up in front of the ticket window) to skate and play in the ice.

Tons of people would "line up" (I use quotes because standing in line is not something people actually do here in China. It was more like piling up in front of the ticket window) to skate and play in the ice.

This guy speeds past with this bicecle (get it? b-ICE-cle... ok, maybe not that funny) talking on the phone.

This guy speeds past with this bicecle (get it? b-ICE-cle... ok, maybe not that funny) talking on the phone.

This kid was having so much fun trying to push his chair-skate, but actually the dad in the back was doing all the work.

This kid was having so much fun trying to push his chair-skate, but actually the dad in the back was doing all the work.

The sun sets at Houhai lake. It got too cold and I came back home.

The sun sets at Houhai lake. It got too cold and I came back home.

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    • Jun 27, 2017 Baisha: Life in an ancient Chinese town Jun 27, 2017
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    • Aug 29, 2016 Gasoline in a bottle and the beach in Cambodia Aug 29, 2016
    • Aug 11, 2016 Siem Reap: rain and shine; night or day. Aug 11, 2016
    • Aug 8, 2016 Groceries and a haircut: the typical Cambodian market Aug 8, 2016
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    • Jul 26, 2016 The happiness in Cambodian villages is contagious Jul 26, 2016
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    • Jul 4, 2016 Drought: the Cambodian village floating on dry water Jul 4, 2016
  • June 2016
    • Jun 28, 2016 Panic at sea: the story of how we hit and sank a fishing boat Jun 28, 2016
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  • May 2016
    • May 25, 2016 Chinese couples take wedding photos to the next level May 25, 2016
    • May 23, 2016 The Canals of Suzhou May 23, 2016
    • May 20, 2016 The Lingering Gardens of Suzhou May 20, 2016
    • May 10, 2016 People and blood in the streets of Suzhou May 10, 2016
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    • Apr 29, 2016 Ruins of the Old Summer Palace Apr 29, 2016
    • Apr 21, 2016 The Dongyue "Temple of Hell" Apr 21, 2016
    • Apr 12, 2016 Yu Yuan, the happiness gardens of Shanghai Apr 12, 2016
    • Apr 7, 2016 The ancient town of Qibao Apr 7, 2016
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    • Mar 23, 2016 The ancient Terracota Army of the first emperor of China Mar 23, 2016
    • Mar 21, 2016 Small Goose Pagoda 小雁塔 Mar 21, 2016
    • Mar 16, 2016 Xi'an City Walls Mar 16, 2016
    • Mar 9, 2016 Wolong Temple 卧龙寺 Mar 9, 2016
    • Mar 7, 2016 Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔 Mar 7, 2016
    • Mar 3, 2016 The Shaanxi History Museum Mar 3, 2016
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    • Feb 24, 2016 Landmarks of Xi'an, the Drum and Bell Towers Feb 24, 2016
    • Feb 21, 2016 Burning "money" during Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year Feb 21, 2016
    • Feb 17, 2016 A Muslim Quarter in the ancient capital of China, Xi'an Feb 17, 2016
    • Feb 5, 2016 Pagoda of the Old Man Wansong 万松老人塔 Feb 5, 2016
    • Feb 1, 2016 Five Pagoda Temple 五塔寺 Feb 1, 2016
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    • Jan 24, 2016 A cold day at the Xiang Shui Hu Great Wall Jan 24, 2016
    • Jan 17, 2016 Tianning Temple 天宁寺: a thousand-year-old treasure Jan 17, 2016
    • Jan 9, 2016 Skating on a chair: a cold afternoon in Beijing Jan 9, 2016
    • Jan 4, 2016 A day in the parks Jan 4, 2016
    • Jan 1, 2016 The first Catholic tomb in China: Jesuit Priest Matteo Ricci Jan 1, 2016
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