North West of the Forbidden City
Having checked out the Gulou or Drum Tower from the 15th century Ming period [though not the original building] north of the Forbidden City [the original time keeping device], I wandered around the hutong on the hunt for some cricket culture. Not much luck – some say it is too warm at the moment. I did hear two crickets in one house that were certainly pets, which were singing together. I made a recording of them. Interesting to record in a public thoroughfare. Most people were mildly curious and even quite interested when I gestured to the sounds and showed images of crickets. One man told me the crickets are known as ‘guo guo’ – a local name maybe, couldn’t find it in the dictionary. Hope to find insect markets at some point. I have found out about a cricket fighting association which I will look into but am really interested in the singing not the fighting.
Came across a lot more of the hutong destruction on this walk [and completely lost my sense of direction]. Some hutong are still inhabited amongst all the rubble, with radios playing and sounds of cooking indoors. Twice I was told not to take photos.
