March 23rd, 2010: Today I am going to have a tour. Me and my little brother woke up at 6:00 am! Grandma's sisterand brother were awake also. We changed our clothes, brushed our teeth, and ate our breakfast. By 6:30 am, mymom and dad woke up and did the same thing. We were going to have a tour today so we had to wait until 7:00 am.When it was 7:00 am, we went to find our taxi. Soon, we found our taxi and we saw our tour guide, Sherry. We alsosaw two people that were from Bulgaria and were also on the tour. We went inside the taxi and the taxi driver droveus to our first place, The Forbidden City. (故宫）Once we were there, we went out of the taxi and Sherry started her tour. We got to see the Meridian Gates; the gates to The Forbidden City. I learned that only the Emperor could go through the middle Meridian Gate. We walked through the gates and saw many temples that the Emperors lived in. Soon, the temples started to end and there was a sign that said: "Your visit is over." So we went back in our taxi and the taxi driver drove us to our second destination, a pearl market. Along the way, Sherry talked about Beijing and it's culture and history.When we were there, we went out of the taxi and went in the pearl market. Then, we went out of the taxi and wentin the pearl market. Then, we were guided by a staff to a place where there was water and oysters in the water. She told us how they got pearls. First, they would get the oysters out of the water. Then, they would cut the shellopen. Finally, they would get all the pearls out. She let my brother fish out a big oyster out of the water with a net.When my brother got it out, the staff didn't open it yet. First she let us guess how many pearls were inside. Everyone guessed two or one. But when she opened the shell there were more than 20 pearls! Then, the staffescorted us to a place where there were two pearl necklaces. She told us how to tell if it were fake pearls or real pearls. When you rub two fake pearls together you hear a smooth sound. But when you rub two pearls therewill be a rough noise. After, she let us explore around the market to see the necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings. I went to the pearl cream section and they said that you were allowed to try some on! It was very smooth.Soon, we had to got back to our taxi. We went inside and the taxi driver drove us to our third place, a restaurant.Once we were there, we went out of the taxi and walked inside the restaurant. We were about to sit at a tablebut it was too noisy there so we decided to got to a more quieter spot. Once we found a table, people were giving us foods but we didn't even order yet! Then, we found out that we don't order food, they just give us random foods. We had a delicious lunch of chicken, vegetables, fish, rice and water. There was even a showto go with the lunch! Soon, we were done and we were very full. We went back in the taxi and the taxi driver us to our fourth destination, TianTan GongYuan. Then, Sherry started her tour. We got to see the Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest. I learned that it was the place where people pray for a good harvest season. Next, we went in a building that had a model of what it looked like inside the Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest. Then, we went to see the Temple of Heaven. This is the placewhere the Emperor prayed. Soon, we went back in the taxi. We went back inside and the taxi driver drove usto our fifth place, a tea house. When we were there, we went out of the taxi and went in the tea house. We went in the room that we were supposed to go to and we waited for the staff to set everything up. Finally she was done and she started. She talked about5 different teas. They are Oolong Tea, White Tea, Jasmine Tea, Lychee Tea, and Puer Tea. She explained how to drink the tea, what it's made from, how long it lasts for, what it tastes like, and why it's good for your health. Sheeven let us try each kind of tea. My favourite kind was Puer Tea. Soon, we had to go back to the taxi. We went back in the taxi and the taxi driver drove us to our last destination, The Summer Palace. (颐和园）Once we were there, we went out of the taxi and Sherry started her tour. I learned that The Summer Palace was burnt down twice in history! We got to see the 长廊，佛香阁，万寿山，昆明湖，and 十七孔桥. The water from the 昆明湖 comes from a mountain called Jade Mountain. Soon, the tour was over. Sherry went back to her house and the taxi driver drove us back to the apartment where grandma's sister and brother lived. When we werethere, we went out of the taxi and went in the apartment. Then, we helped ourselves to a good dinner that grandma's sister and brother cooked for us. After, we had a good night's sleep.
