10 November 2011
Tiananmen square
I thought I might as well get another of the big tourist attractions out of the way.
Just like the internet says, Tiananmen square is just a vast expanse of concrete with nothing much to see or do.
There are some very big buildings around and in it, including the national museum which I will probably go to at some point, and also the tomb of Chairman Mao where they have the unfortunate corpse of someone that looks like him on display (apparently the real one fell apart after they pumped fresh alcohol into it every day for 30 years).
I looked around the place for signs of tank tracks, but all I could see were tourist groups sitting on the concrete enjoying the concrete.
An example of the vastness of roads in central Beijing.
The square. Theres soldiers and police everywhere, and you go through security checks to get into the square.
Not sure what this building is, I thought it was Mao's tomb but it turns out thats in the middle of the square.
A large flag, soldiers stand to attention in perspex booths whilst others goose step around it.
Theres a number of patriotic frescos such as this.
This is fairly typical for a Beijing side street, I am in the middle of the road, where they have such gardens and walkways and an army of people sweeping up the leaves.
I had a late lunch at the Chinese version of pepper lunch. You are supposed to cook it yourself but the guy must have thought I didnt know this, and he stirred it all together until cooked before allowing me to take it to my table.
Lunch was small, so enjoyed a delicious crispy chocolate vanilla cream puff from beard papa. Highly recommended!
Many stores have some sort of gimmick out the front, I have seen Darth Vader, a knight in shining armour, geishas and this guy.
Apparently, part of the great wall. There you go, I have done that now too!