Who: Don and Vanda Edington of Cheyenne with the pedicab driver.
Out and about: Don’t miss taking a pedicab tour in the Hutong area. The Hutong area near the Forbidden City was built during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The ancient buildings are formed into four houses called quadrangles with the backs creating a common courtyard for four families. Half the population in Beijing lives in the Hutong, with a common rent of 320 yuan ($40) a month. If you take the tour you will be invited into a home and hosted for tea.
Travel tip: Take advantage of the thriving China economy and a free market with the vendors. You can get two or three packs of post cards for one American dollar, which they gladly accept. One dollar is approximately 8 yuan. We liked the Yaxiu cloth and shoes market with five floors of everything you may wish to buy, including silk, pearls and U.S. brand merchandise manufactured in China. Remember to negotiate down to around 75 percent of the starting price. You may need to walk away, but the vendor will follow you and accept your offer if it is above their cost. It does take stamina to bargain for every purchase, so you may wish to go to the government-owned Friendship Store where prices are fixed.
