2018-08-18

【Aiden in English】

        This might've been the most satisfying flight I've ever been on. A cute, crowded airplane with one snack and beverage, but the feeling of getting in the air never felt so good.

        So Nanjing's weather has stabilized. Theoretically, the plane flight should be a guarantee, but knowing our luck so far, Air China's going to overbook our flight and leave us stranded. Again. While we waited for the flight, the capital beckoned exploration. 

        In Downtown Beijing, both Xianyukou Delicacy Street and Dashilanr Business Street, are something I've never experienced before. Each of them quite literally is large and wide, covered in wait for it, restaurants, and food stores. Therefore, the first thing that hits you is the smell. And then you see the entrance to the downtown alley, and it seems like the buildings are gateways into another dimension. Another prime example would be Diagon Alley from Harry Potter, a magical street in the heart of a growing city. Except this one sells the Old Beijing Candied Haws and not magic wands, which aren't so different, to be honest.

        In the previous visits, I've avoided this area during busy hours, just coming by for a meal or a snack, never walking the entire thing. Today, we walked the most popular length of the street, and anything 'popular' in China included an ocean of people.

【红霞译文】

        这也许是我有生以来最称心的一次飞行，机舱虽小却座无虚席，而且还送一回吃的喝的，不过飘在空中总觉得不太踏实。

        南京天气业已稳定起来，照理说通航表示一切恢复正常，但到目前为止我们运气欠佳，国航超载让我们再度陷入困窘，实感前途未卜。在等待航班调度期间，首都重新进入我们的视线。

        我从未逛过北京闹市区的老字号美食商业街，像鲜鱼口和大栅栏路面宽阔，有必要强调一下，餐馆饭店一家挨着一家，因此你首先接触的东西就是气味，随后发现大门正冲着中心地带，穿入牌楼仿佛走进另一个天地，犹如《哈利·波特》小说里描述的斜角巷，堪称繁华闹市一条神奇的街道，只不过这里叫卖的是老北京冰糖葫芦而不是魔杖，除此而外别无差异。

        以前我曾几度来过北京，每次都避免在人潮涌动的时候去那儿压马路，顶多吃顿饭或买点小吃，从没有沿街头溜达到巷尾。今天，我们一口气几乎把这条“家喻户晓”的旅游热线逛了个遍，既然名声远扬，那么少不了人山人海。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2018: Beijing—Drifters around Gatehouse, CHN(北京—漫游前门胡同)

2017: Cologne—Kolsch Beer Tasting, Germany(德国科隆—品尝科什啤酒)

2017: Cologne 4711 & 1. FC Koln, Germany(德国科隆香水与足球俱乐部)

2017: Cologne Cathedral, Germany(德国科隆大教堂)

2017: Brühl—Falkenlust Hunting Lodge, DEU(德国布吕尔—猎趣园)

2017: Brühl—Augustusburg Castle, DEU(德国布吕尔—奥古斯塔斯古堡)

2017: Brühl—Augustusburg & Falkenlust, DEU(德国布吕尔—古堡与行宫)

2015: Travel alone to Beijing(独行北京)

2014: YMCA Camp─Dodgeball-1(基督教青年会夏令营─躲避球之一)

2012: 廿五年再相会(Reunion after 25 Years)

Xianyukou (鲜鱼口)

Xianyukou Delicacy Street (鲜鱼口美食街)

Xianyukou Delicacy Street (鲜鱼口美食街 08-18-2018)

Xianyukou Delicacy Street (鲜鱼口美食街 08-18-2018)

Xianyukou Delicacy Street (鲜鱼口美食街 08-18-2018)

Xianyukou Delicacy Street (鲜鱼口美食街 08-18-2018)

Sculpture of Xianyukou Delicacy Street (鲜鱼口美食街·雕塑 08-18-20)

Dashilanr Delicacy Street (大栅栏·美食街 08-18-2018)

Tong Ren Tang @ Dashilanr (大栅栏·同仁堂 08-18-2018)

Old Beijing Candied Haw @ Dashilanr (大栅栏·老北京冰糖葫芦)

Fragrant Rice Village @ Dashilanr (大栅栏·稻香村)

Rattle Drum (货郎鼓)

Old Beijing Candied Haw & Roasted Chestnuts (冰糖葫芦糖炒栗子)

Stir-fried String Beans w/ Olive Vegetable & Minced Pork & Crispy Pork Patties, Hong Zhuangyuan

(宏壮元·榄菜肉末四季豆与猪肉大饼)

Porridge of Five Blacks, Rice Bean Sesame Prune Fungus & Preserved Egg w/ Lean Pork Congee, Hong Zhuangyuan

(宏壮元·五黑粥与皮蛋瘦肉粥)

Fish Porridge w/ Fresh Vegetables, Hong Zhuangyuan

(宏壮元·鲜蔬鱼片粥)

Meringue Beef Patties w/ Old Beijing Paste, Hong Zhuangyuan

(宏壮元·酥皮牛肉饼与老北京糊塌子)

Go Belief (狗不理 08-18-2018)

Crab Dumplings in Soup (蟹黄小笼蒸包)

Fruit Store on Xinglong St (兴隆街水果店 08-18-2018)

Pygmy Water-Lily (睡莲)

Crosslinks(相关博文):

China(出游中国)

9th Grade(高中一年级)