Two plans today if weather holds, warmish but overcast
- Window shopping
- Big Goose Pagoda
Wandered off to biggest department store we could find, by the Bell Tower. Mid/upper range. Most of cosmetic counters (all around entrance naturally) were international brands. Most of clothing franchises were local Chinese never heard of (but did include some western brands)
Prices in that department store seemed slightly lower but not significantly for branded goods
Back via Muslim quarter where all the food stall hang out
I had delicious spiced kebab stick
And Ying had red bean, sweet potato and sesame pudding
Topped off by some egg tarts
Throughout the assorted stalls, fresh fruit, noodles, kebabs, spices and chilli sellers were interspersed with open butchers
Vibrant and busy atmosphere with plenty of locals, and motorbikes tooting away
Supper was bibimbap. A Korean dish of rice, meat (beef) and assorted vegetables (a bit like Korean poke bowl. Just right
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Took the metro to the suburbs, though to be honest looked like the centre of town with high rise buildings and neon lights. 2 Yuan (20p) each!
Obviously the place to go, especially if you are all dressed up in period Chinese dynasty regalia. At some points there were more dressed up than in modern clothes
Then onto the water show. We managed to get front row though squashed between the railings, other bodies, umbrellas and phones taking videos of other phones taking the show! Took 15mins in all (there’s a limit to how many fountains variation one can orchestrate)
Returned by taxi, around £3.50