We spent most of the day at the beautiful Summer Palace. I had never been anywhere quite like it before, and it was exactly what I imagine when I think of traditional Chinese landscape and design. Set against Kunming Lake, there are a myriad of picturesque pathways, bridges, and pagodas. The water itself is overflowing with lily pads and exquisite flowers and the sound of chirping cicadas permeated the sweet summer air. Although it was incredibly beautiful and the history of the place was fascinating, it was also so hot! We were all drenched in sweat by the end and guzzling bottles of water the entire walk. Nevertheless, I am so glad that the Summer Palace served as our first stop here in Beijing.
After we returned back to campus, I decided to check out a nearby convenience store. There were so many new and unusual items and even different variations of brands I recognized. I settled on some pistachios—I think they’re actually cheaper here!—and begrudgingly bought more water. The hippie/environmentalist in me dies a little inside every time I drink bottled water, but I was still so thirsty.
