March 21, 2019

I’m writing from our apartment in California, we’ve just returned this afternoon from our trip. I knew that some social media was banned in China, but didn’t anticipate some of the difficulties with trying to keep everyone up to date with our trip.

With that being said, I’m writing about Thursday, March 21st. Our first full day in Beijing.

We met Journey – our China tour guide at 10:00 AM and started our tour of Beijing with none other than the 2008 Olympic Park! I was really excited to see this area because I love the Olympics (very high up on my bucket list – particularly the summer Olympics).

The weather was a complete adjustment from both California and Thailand – it was very cold and windy. Thankfully we had packed layers, but we were lacking hats and mittens. (I’ve gotten soft since moving away from MN).

We were able to see the Bird’s Nest stadium and the Water Cube – they had also repositioned the torch that they had used during the 2008 Summer Olympics. All of it was very cool to see. I could almost imagine how lively the city was during the Olympic Games. Journey also informed us that the Water Cube was going to be renamed as the “Ice Cube” in 2022 when China hosts the Winter Olympics. She thought that curling would take place in that center.

After that we got back in the bus and took off for Qianmen Street – this traditionally had been a market in ancient times. (Now it is famous for tourists – imagine Pier 39 in San Francisco). There is even a trolley that takes tourists down the center of it. This street and area date back around 600 years. Some of the shops and restaurants are hundreds of years old. Peking Duck Restaurant being one of them – and a shoe store that dated back over 200 years – to name a few.

The Central Axis of Beijing is 7.8 kilometers long starting in the south of the city from the Yongding Gate, running across the Zhengyang Gate, Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Jingshan Hill, and ending with the Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the north. Most of the important buildings – are centered around this axis.

(The central part is the actual axis line – also where the trolleys go back and forth).

This portion of Beijing is the largest imperial capital city still standing

We didn’t do any shopping while we were there – we did browse through the shops. This is where we ran into a mother and her young son – she wanted to take a picture of me with her son. Journey had told us that a lot of people visiting Beijing were from the countryside and they had never seen Westerners. She also said that they would be interested in my hair and eye color. We did witness this a few times – and I’m not sure how many times were photographed/filmed without knowing. Naturally, I obliged – it made me feel like I was a celebrity of sorts.

We kept walking towards Tian’anmen Square – this is along the central axis. In 1989 there were protests in the square – Martial Law was enacted during this time. The death toll has never formally been released – but it is estimated that hundreds if not thousands of students/civilians had been killed during these protests. Say what you will about the stated of the USA, but we thankfully do have the right to peacefully assemble.

Even as we were walking with Journey we would see a few people to stop to listen to what she was saying – whether or not it was harmless, she told us to not asking any political questions while we were in this portion of the city. (Lorraine thought the man may have been regarding, but again – we don’t know for sure).

We then started walking towards the Forbidden City – the first structure we saw was the Meridian Gate which was built in the 1400s. The Forbidden City complex was famed for having 9,999 buildings – it was a large complex and we walked a TON! The complex is broken into the outer court – and the inner court. Journey told us to think about the outer court as the Empreror’s Office – and the inner court as his house. The inner court was where the emperor lived with the empress and his concubines.

(This map should give a better idea of how large the complex is – all of the portions in gray are NOT open to the public).

We didn’t see very many of the buildings when considering how many there were at the complex, but many of them were not opened to the public.

We were able to walk through the Meridian Gate, Gate of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. In the inner court, we were able to see Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Additionally, we were able to see a courtyard where the concubine palaces would be as well.

Just outside of the Forbidden City – the man in the picture is Mao Zedong, who had made the announcement that China would become the People’s Republic of China, and named himself the head of the State.

The Chinese believe that the earth is square and heaven is round. That’s why you see the square/round door- the center door is the door that the emperor would go through.Inside the gate – looking back. Walking up to the Gate of Supreme Harmony – this was the one that had been repainted in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Closer view of the Gate of Supreme Harmony – still in the outer court.

It was amazing to see these structures that were built in the 1400s, and what they did to protect them. (Large vats to hold water in case fire broke out – and during the winter they lit fires beneath them to ensure the water didn’t freeze over). Some of the gates had been refurbished in time for the 2008 Olympics, but even those who hadn’t been touched up still had beautiful painting on them.

This marble was all one sheet – this is part of the reason why it took 10 years to get the materials needed for the Forbidden City.

Inside one of the buildings.

When it was decided that the Forbidden City would be built it took 14 years to complete – the first 10 years was spent gathering the supplies and only 4 years to complete the construction and detailing, etc. Crazy, right?!

After we completed our long walk we ended up meeting with Joe and Lorraine and had happy hour in the hotel lobby. After happy hour, we ventured to the 21st floor and had Cantonese food.

Logistics:

Olympic Park

Qianmen Street

Tian’anmen Square

Forbidden City

The Great Wall Hotel – Beijing

Tomorrow:

The Great Wall

Sacred Way