On our last full day in Beijing, both Marc and I just wanted to take things easy and not be bothered by any fixed schedule nor itinerary.  We wanted to explore places we previously saw and passed by but not visited long enough.  We didn't want to take the crowded subway trains anymore but rather just walk around at a leisurely pace.  We planned on starting our walk from Wangfujing given its close proximity to our hotel, the Park Plaza.  Anyway it was snowing on our second to the last day in Beijing and this is how our hotel looked in the snow.

A closer view of the entrance.  Hotel security was very tight in the hotel at all times.  Security personnel were visible in the lobby and in front of the hotel.  There were men in heavy winter coats sweeping the entry way and sidewalk and clearing them of snow.

Here's a view of the hotel entry way from our hotel room.

It was snowing!

A very hazy view of the area surrounding our hotel, The Park Plaza

We lucked out big time on our first visit to Beijing.  Hotels which otherwise charge hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for their rooms during the peak tourist season, we got our suite in our very nice hotel for a lot less.  Reason being it was winter time and this season of the year is actually low tourist season in Beijing.  Anyway, I had to take a picture of the hotel's facade in the snow.  Next to Chicago, Beijing was the coldest place I had been to in winter time.

That morning, we decided to stop by an absolutely upscale mall a block away.  I can no longer recall the mall's name but it was totally devoid of any visitors.  The boutiques were open and there were even a few greeters at the front desk in the lobby.  It had a lot of uber high brand names for fashion and interior design.  I figured it must have been a "set up an appointment for a visit" kind of thing.  From there we went inside the swank Peninsula Hotel.  The hotel didn't have much in terms of decor in the lobby.  Just upscale shops and escalators.  A bit of a let down, to be honest.  I was expecting to see a grand lobby to die for.  After all, the hotel's facade looks so nice in travel magazines and brochures.  Besides, the Peninsula chain of hotels in general do have beautiful and grand looking lobbies like the one in Hong Kong and Manila.

Inside the Peninsula Hotel Beijing

The Peninsula Hotel Beijing had a lot of Rolls Royces parked right in front of it.  Here's one of them.  The tall building across the street is Novotel Wangfujing.  Another hotel in a very centralized location.

The same car but at a different angle

This stone hill is so similar to the ones I saw in the Forbidden City.

I believe it was called the Hill of Accumulated Elegance.

We saw this dog all dressed to the nines outside the Peninsula Hotel.  We were quite surprised to see one in Beijing.  On our very first trip to Guangzhou ages ago, our Chinese guide informed us that Chinese citizens were not allowed to own dogs for pets.   I wonder if this policy has already changed.  That visit of ours after all took place ten years ago.

As Marc and I walked around, we saw this area which didn't look modern at all.  It had restaurants galore but all were closed early that morning. This area was part of a hutong out of several hutongs surrounding  Wangfujing.

One of the restaurants we saw in what must have been a hutong.

Another view of the corner replete with restaurants

This area had a lot of statues of local Chinese dressed in old traditional worker garb

A man pulling a rickshaw

A man yelling something

Is he begging?  Is he asking passersby to come into the restaurant given that is standing in front of one?

Or is he just praying for good luck?

Now, I have the foggiest idea what this vignette is supposed to represent.

I have no idea what his gesture means.  Can he be checking if it is drizzling?

I bet the restaurant that has this duck statue served Peking duck.

Taking the supplies into the restaurant for the day's meals

An old colonial looking building

Taken in the area between Wangfujing and the Forbidden City

A local bakery

I wanted to try some of the bread here.

Could this have been a temple?

A fully covered tricycle which looked like a car

This must have been a vehicle for hire because the elderly gentleman driving it approached us and asked us if we wanted a ride.  What I found funny about the vehicle was that it didn't seem to have a floor.  Well, the driver part at least since we could see the drivers feet as he drove.

Bicycles galore in the alley between old houses

This scene is quite rare now in Beijing.  I used to see pictures of thousands of Chinese riding bikes all over cities and towns years ago in newspapers, books, and magazines.  Well not anymore.  Cars have taken over now.

A residence with a high brick wall separating it from the street.

This is the entrance to a huge compound.  A number of houses and a courtyard can be found inside.  It was being renovated.  It seemed like a whole gut and remodel.

A rear entrance to the Forbidden City from one of the hutongs

St. Joseph's Cathedral

Built on ground donated by the Shunzhi emperor in 1655, this Jesuit church was toppled by an earthquake in 1720, gutted by a fire in 1807, and completely razed during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900.  It was renovated from 1999 to 2000.

We visited this church a few times hoping to get a glimpse of its interiors.  It was, however, closed each and every time we went to look.  Though Catholic in denomination, I read somewhere that this church is not recognized by the Vatican.

A closer view of St. Joseph's Cathedral

Dongan Department Store

The Days Inn Forbidden City, one budget hotel popular among foreign and Chinese tourists to Beijing

In front of Days Inn Forbidden City in Beijing

Marc and I went inside and inquired about the rooms' prices.  The hotel reservations people didn't want to give out prices.  One lady gave us a business card instead with a number we could call to get quotes.  After some research, I realized this hotel was popular because of its very low prices.  $50 a night for many rooms.  Now that is a deal in Beijing.  As for me, I would love to stay at the Park Plaza again, the Novotel or the Peninsula next time we travel to Beijing.