It was absolutely freezing in Beijing.  There was something about the air that had a bite to it.  We had to bundle up to the max.   I was sporting my sheep wool gloves from New Zealand and every layer that was in my backpack.  This is a picture of Heaven's Gate which I believe is a gigantic shrine or some kind of temple.  There was a path from this gate all the way to the emperor's palace.  On this wing of the gate, there were hundreds of chinamen, real live chinamen, hanging out in the freezing cold weather.  Many of them were singing some sort of carols while others were painting Chinese characters on the tiles with water.  It was an amazing atmosphere.

    We met up with Keefer and he first brought us to the Beijing pearl market where we picked up some great Chinese counterfeit merchandise including this schnazzy blue vest for all of about 6 bones. Of course you get what you pay for; the vest is filled with down, the down feathers that are so small that are about the size and width of a splinter.  My entire wardrobe is now covered with little pieces of down.  Not good.
    On the top floor of the market were tons of tables filled pearl booths.  Each booth was filled with strings of pearls of all different colors.  We walked around and Keefer decided to see how low he could bargain a small Chinese wooden box.  The initial price was $40 and he must have bargained it down to $8.  In China, everything is bargained for, everything. 
    The next morning Mara and I were preparing to leave for Xian, China to Pat Miller and Qin's Terracotta warriors. 

on to the Terracotta Warriors