2005
This was our first trip to the Forbidden City. As we pulled up to Tiananmen Square, our guide gave us the rundown. Beware of the sellers. We will be going to reputable stores later. They will be pushy. Most of the stuff they sell, may not last very long.
Getting off the bus, we looked around. It all looked safe. Forming a circle, we headed to the square. Away from the safety of the bus, we looked like a group of chickens looking for the foxes. Then it happened. They spotted us. The next thing you know, we have Mao watches, books, post cards, flags, etc being thrust upon us. They all promised quality and to give us a good deal. We kept our eyes forward and continued to say Not Interested. Eventually, they gave up. I'm guessing that in the square it must be illegal to bother people with sales or they just knew we were not going to buy anything. They left us alone.
Tiananmen Square is huge. In the center of the square they have a monument to the people. To one side of the monument is the memorial of Mao Zedong. People are usually lined around the building to pay respects. We did not go in, but I heard that Mao was preserved and that people can go in to see him.
On the opposite side is the Forbidden City. This houses the palaces of the Ming - Qing dynasty's. It is now a national museum. On holidays, it can become quite crowded. In late November, it was not that bad. As we walked around the square we saw the buildings where the government meets, a library, I believe, and some others. We also seemed to be an attraction to the people. At least the people with blond hair. The main building that you can see from the square, in the Forbidden City, has a huge picture of Mao. Before entering, we took pictures.
To get across to the Forbidden City, you have to get across a huge road. They do not have you cross. There is an underground tunnel to the other side. While getting to the other side, a man in a military outfit was walking in our direction. One of our group thought he would make a good photo. She picked up her camera to shoot. The man turned around. Her husband goes "Honey, I don't think he wants his picture taken".
The Forbidden City is surrounded by a huge wall. To get in, you cross a moat and go through a huge red door. This will lead to another building that you have to go through. Next up is the area to pay for your entry ticket, which our guide took care of.
On to the multiple buildings and artifacts housed in each. Some points of interest are the Emporers chair, the rooms that they slept in, the rock garden, etc.
On to the multiple buildings and artifacts housed in each. Some points of interest are the Emporers chair, the rooms that they slept in, the rock garden, etc.
2009
Our next visit came the year after the Olympics. Things had changed from the first time we had visited Tainanmen Square. They were preparing to celebrate 60 years of Communist Rule. The square was decked out with festive poles and a large screen television. It showed the wonders of China.
This visit was special because we got to bring our two daughters to celebrate this occasion. Kayla, my eldest, was the center of attention. This was due to her blonde hair. When asked, she replied "It's because people in China love her!" The most attention came from historical areas. They would attract people from all over China. Some areas are very rural. They do not see people with blonde hair. We also had our new daughter, Kiersten. It was interesting to see their reactions to everything. I also made it a point to take more pictures than our first adoption.
2011
By this adoption, we were pros. We probably could have led the tour. We followed but you can only see this so many times. I looked for interesting things to take pictures of. Mainly, I focused on our daughter. It was very cold. I did have my Ushanka to keep my head warm. That is only because my wife got a great bargain. I thought a ball cap would be good. Boy, was I wrong. When the wind hit my head, I knew I was in trouble.
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