Beijing we learned is a city of 24 million people. To give you some
perspective, New York City has about 8 million people. That would be
considered a medium size city in China. After exchanging some dollars
for Yuan in the hotel we left on a bus for
Tienanmen Square. When we got
off the bus I immediately learned the most important phrase for a
tourist trying to get through Beijing: "Bu Yao". It means "don't want".
This was important as people approached us from all angles trying to
sell kites, hats, fans, and postcards. Tienanmen Square is most famous as the location for the protests against the government in
1989. It is the third largest city square in the world. It is located at
the gate leading to the Forbidden City.
We passed underground to the
Forbidden City. Built in the
early 15th century it is called the Forbidden City because no one was
allowed in unless the emperor allowed them in. One emperor was so
concerned that people would try to enter that he ordered the bricks on
the ground to be layered 9 times so no one could dig their way in.
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| Basketball hoops in the Forbidden City! |
 |
| You may see these in front of your favorite Chinese restaurant. The female always has a cub under her paw (as opposed to the globe the man has) and is on the right of the male. You can remember because the woman is always right!!! |
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| These little guys were meant to protect the home. |
After lunch at a local restaurant we headed to the
Temple of
Heaven. Also built during the early 15th century it is a group of
religious buildings. In the middle is the Hall of Good Harvest where
the emperor would pray for good harvests.
 |
| The Temple of Heaven. You may have seen a glowing version of | this at the Missouri Botanical Gardens this summer. |
 |
| A garbage bike! |
Tea is served with almost every meal in China. (Coca Cola didn't come
to China until 1984) We got to see a tea demonstration and taste many
types. We were also taught the proper way to hold a tea cup. No matter
how hard I tried I couldn't get my hand to look the way it should.
 |
| There were bike lanes everywhere in China. I wish that would catch on in St. Louis. |
 |
| The food market in Beijing. |
 |
| Scorpions on a stick! |
After dinner we went to see selections of the
Beijing Opera. You can listen to it for yourself
here.
Beijing we learned is a city of 24 million people. To give you some
perspective, New York City has about 8 million people. That would be
considered a medium size city in China. After exchanging some dollars
for Yuan in the hotel we left on a bus for Tienanmen Square. When we got
off the bus I immediately learned the most important phrase for a
tourist trying to get through Beijing: "Bu Yao". It means "don't want".
This was important as people approached us from all angles trying to
sell kites, hats, fans, and postcards. Tienanmen Square is most famous as the location for the protests against the government in
1989. It is the third largest city square in the world. It is located at
the gate leading to the Forbidden City.
Tea is served with almost every meal in China. (Coca Cola didn't come
to China until 1984) We got to see a tea demonstration and taste many
types. We were also taught the proper way to hold a tea cup. No matter
how hard I tried I couldn't get my hand to look the way it should.
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