The Legacy of Lidice in Michelin - February 2025

BEIJING – Part Two

Dear Readers,

In the first part, I shared my initial impressions of Beijing – a visit to the Great Wall of China, my first experiences with travelling, and accommodations on the school campus. Today, I’d like to share more moments from this journey, which introduced me to the beauty of Chinese culture, gastronomy, and architecture.

The Temple of Heaven (Tiāntán, 天坛) is one of the most iconic symbols of Chinese culture. Built in the 15th century, it represents harmony between heaven and earth.

The serenity and calmness here stand in contrast to the crowds of tourists – everyone seems to respect the sacredness of this place. The architecture is full of symbolism, with the number nine, considered the highest and most divine in Chinese culture, recurring in many details. Nine circular columns of the temple symbolize heavenly paradise and connection to divine forces, while the overall layout often refers to nine celestial spheres. The golden ornaments and marble carvings showcase impressive craftsmanship.

One of the most fascinating spots is the Echo Wall (Huiyinbi, 回音壁), where your voice resonates through space and can travel great distances thanks to the unique acoustics. It demonstrates ancient Chinese mastery of sound.

Another area, called Yuánqiú Tán (圆丘坛), allows people to stand in the centre of a white marble circle symbolizing heaven. It’s believed that this spot connects one to divine forces, serving as a sacred place for meditation and spiritual alignment.

Visiting the Forbidden City (Gùgōng, 故宫), officially known as the Imperial Palace, was another unforgettable experience. This vast complex includes more than 800 buildings and over 8,700 rooms, which served as the home and workplace of several generations of emperors. Surrounded by massive courtyards and walls adorned with paintings, it symbolized power and authority. Inside, there’s also a system of water channels that were not just decorative but practical – they provided fire protection and symbolized purity and energy flow. Life for the emperors was surrounded by wealth and luxury but also strict hierarchy and isolation from the outside world.

Nearby, you’ll find the Olympic Stadium (Niǎocháo, 鸟巢), known as the Bird’s Nest. Designed by renowned architects Herzog and de Meuron, the stadium earned its nickname because of its unique structure resembling a bird’s nest.

Gastronomy in Beijing is as fascinating as its history. Near the school campus, there was a massive shopping mall. At the entrance, you immediately see piles of various types of eggs arranged in pyramid shapes, ranging from chicken and duck eggs to light green and blue speckled ones. The quality of fruit and vegetables was indescribably better than in the Czech Republic. Jackfruit, dragon fruit, or starfruit were significantly larger, tastier, and surprisingly much cheaper. Fluffy vanilla buns and rice balls filled with sweet bean paste were on every corner and worth a try, as was the traditional Beijing duck (Běiijīng kǎoyā, 北京烤鸭) found at markets.

Apart from fruit and other goods, you could find a meat section in the mall. Here, I came across live turtles and frogs. If someone chose one, the staff would cut off its head with scissors, place the body into a plastic bag with a price tag, and the customer would leave with their purchase. Alongside typical meat products, you could also buy chicken feet, duck beaks, rooster heads, and many other parts of animals rarely seen in our stores.

At the markets, I discovered a wide variety of dishes and flavours. Apart from traditional soups and dumplings, there were specialities like grilled octopus, live scorpions on skewers (said to be safe to eat after their venom sac is removed), fried spiders, seahorses, fried worms, or roasted ants that tasted like hazelnuts. Of course, the famous Beijing duck, a local icon, was also available.

For the adventurous, there’s the “century egg” (Pídàn, 皮蛋), with its dark gelatinous white and nearly black creamy yolk, or sea cucumber tea, another intriguing delicacy valued for both its taste and alleged health benefits.

The boldest experience for me was trying fried spider, which left me with mixed feelings – the legs were crispy, but the body was too intense for my taste. For a milder start, I’d recommend ants, which have a subtle and more approachable flavour.

For those with a sweet tooth, the markets also offered the famous Tánghúlú (糖葵花) – fruit, usually hawthorn, coated in crispy caramel, symbolizing luck and health in China.

Not only at the markets but also in most shopping centres, bargaining is customary. My first experience was buying beautiful hand-carved Chinese chopsticks. The saleswoman initially asked for 60 yuan. When I tried to pay the full amount, she refused and explained that bargaining is a common practice. At first, it felt awkward, as if I were trying to cheat her, but I soon realized it was more of a sport, and I started to enjoy it. Prices are intentionally inflated at the start, leaving room to negotiate a better deal. Thanks to this, I returned home with a suitcase full of souvenirs and gifts for the entire family.

China is a land of contrasts, experiences, and flavours that leave a lasting impression. Whether captivated by historical landmarks, culinary challenges, or bustling markets, every visit enriches you.

I look forward to sharing more with you in my next article.