midday
A snaky-looking fellow was finally produced , and Ned proceeded to question him about the show places of the town . `` Let him think we are American tourists , '' Ned said to his chums , `` and we 'll stand a better chance of getting into the diplomatic section of the town . Anyway , while we are here , we may as well see the sights . '' After a midday luncheon Ned and Jimmie started out to look over the place . They were now in what is known as the general city , where the streets are from 140 to 200 feet wide . The thoroughfares are mostly unpaved , and the shops which line them are continuous , some green , some blue , some red , but all bustling with business . The shops in this section of Peking are decorated with huge , staring signs , resplendent with Chinese characters highly gilt .