Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City,Beijing, China – 10/30/2016

October 30, 2016 (Sunday)

Michael slept better than I did. I woke up a little early but excited to get the party started. We got our wake up call at 6:30 AM, which would normally totally depress me by having to get up that early, but today it was fine because we were still on California time and had actually been up for a little bit.

We showered, got dressed, and then went down to the complimentary breakfast buffet. Wonderful. Most anything you could imagine they had at the Four Points by Sheraton. Some things were quite unusual, some things were very Asian, and some things we actually recognized. The hardest part was getting some coffee. Their machine was quite different and I couldn’t figure it out and couldn’t find anyone to speak English to help. The line to get coffee was usually around four people deep and went very slow.

It is a huge buffet with several sections, Asian, American, many selections.
It is a huge buffet with several sections, Asian, American, many selections.
Lots.
Lots.
Breakfast, delicious and a struggle to find coffee.
Breakfast, delicious and a struggle to find coffee.
Pretty woman's first plate.
Pretty woman’s first plate.
On our way back to the bus.
On our way back to the bus.

We met up with all of our tour at 8:00 AM in the lobby of the Sheraton. There are a total of thirty of us at this point (two will join us later). The second part of the group (ten) were from the East Coast (Delaware, Atlanta, etc.). Nice people. We got on the bus and Emily (our tour guide) told us facts and gave us information on Beijing and China in general. She is quite good and speaks excellent English.

The outside of our hotel.
The outside of our hotel.
Across the street from our hotel.
Across the street from our hotel.
Tienanmen Square bound.
Tiananmen Square bound.
It is a comfortable bus and the people are all most pleasant and fun.
It is a comfortable bus and the people are all most pleasant and fun.
Seemed out of place.
Seemed out of place.
This view times 10,000 is much of what we see.
This view times 10,000 is much of what we see.

We got to Tiananmen Square and walked through security to get inside. Emily gave us a few minutes to take pictures and such and then off we went to the Forbidden City.

The gatehouse outside Tiananmen Square.
The gatehouse outside Tiananmen Square.
The picture does not do justice to the golden shinning light reflecting off the gate house.
The picture does not do justice to the golden light reflecting off the gate house.
One of the gatehouses outside the square.
One of the gatehouses outside the square.
Pedestrian underpasses are the way to cross major streets here.
Pedestrian underpasses are the way to cross major streets here.
Just like a vehicle underpass.
Just like a vehicle underpass.
Police seem relaxed and not too on edge as we passed through a security screening.
Police seem relaxed and not too on edge as we passed through a security screening.
There are many tourist here today. Local Chinese like to visit here.
There are many tourist here today. Local Chinese like to visit too.
Mao's memorial building is just off the square. There was a steady line of folks going in to tour the place.
Mao’s memorial building is just off the square. There was a steady line of folks going in to tour the place.
One of two statues, I think it has to do with workers and Mao.
One of two statues, I think it has to do with workers and Mao.
I think a World War II memorial.
I think a World War II memorial.
National Museum. Not on our tour today.
National Museum. Not on our tour today.
We are headed off the square to the forbidden city. Attendance is typically over a million people on special events.
We are headed off the square to the forbidden city. Attendance is typically over a million people on special events.

As we were walking around we were approached by many people selling their wares. I couldn’t resist and got a few hats (panda and a military type hat) for $3 (US or $20 Chinese) each. Once we got into the Forbidden City, we went further inside into the Imperial Palace area. HUGE. After doing all that, we exited through the Imperial Garden. So lovely.

Going into the underpass. They are adding english to their signs to be more tourist friendly.
Going into the underpass. They are adding English to their signs to be more tourist friendly.
Passing under a big thoroughfare.
Passing under a big thoroughfare.  (Emily with the pink umbrella.)
The first of several moats.
The first of several moats.
The waterworks plays with music at 10 am every morning. Kind of luck we were right by it when it wnet off. Lasted several minutes.
The waterworks plays with music at 10 AM every morning. Kind of lucky we were right by it when it went off. Lasted several minutes.
Poor guy, hope they get lots of breaks.
Poor guy, hope they get lots of breaks.
Wasn't sure if these were police in training or what. They stood like the soldiers.
Wasn’t sure if these were police in training or what. They stood like the soldiers.
Mao's portrait.
Mao’s portrait.
Pretty woman in her Panda bear hat.
Pretty woman in her Panda bear hat.
The designs and passages are very large scale and made to be defensive.
The designs and passages are very large scale and made to be defensive.
A huge led screen, in Chinese, giving information about the place.
A huge LED screen, in Chinese, giving information about the place.
Edie really was attracted to the copper colored handles and hardware on the benches.
Edie really was attracted to the copper colored handles and hardware on the benches.
The massive overwhelming size of the place hits you as you wind through.
The massive overwhelming size of the place hits you as you wind through.
The scale is huge and the detail is tremendously fine.
The scale is huge and the detail is tremendously fine.
Guess how many knobs in a row.
Guess how many knobs in a row.
You go through many sections before reaching the Imperial Palace portion of the Forbidden City.
You go through many sections before reaching the Imperial Palace portion of the Forbidden City.
Inner moat.
Inner moat.
Well worn detail on the top of the banister.
Well worn detail on the top of the banister.
Symbol of the Emperor and Empress.
Symbol of the Emperor and Empress.
There was repair work going on, it fascinated me. The pavers go 15 deep, each layer moving in opposite directions. Makes tunneling very difficult.
There was repair work going on, it fascinated me. The bricks go 15 deep, each layer moving in opposite directions. Makes tunneling very difficult.
New replacements.
New replacements.
Prepping for new stone.
Prepping for new stone.
Stairs at every new inner circle.
Stairs at every new inner circle.
Tron and Nancy getting a selfie.
Tran and Nancy taking a selfie.
I tried to get Andrew to strike a Kung Fu pose.
I tried to get Andrew to strike a Kung Fu pose.
I don't know, maybe they have made a bunch of stencils. The detail and labor boggles my mind.
I don’t know, maybe they have made a bunch of stencils. The detail and labor boggles my mind.
Very lovely.
Very lovely.
Each dragon's head is a drain pipe.
Each dragon’s head is a drain pipe.
Installing ramps at steps and thresholds. They are trying to turn this into a first class cultural center.
Installing ramps at steps and thresholds. They are trying to turn this into a first class cultural center.
Big grounds and another circle of walls and buildings with just a few gates.
Big grounds and another circle of walls and buildings with just a few gates.
The gargoyle type figures are on all the roof lines.
The gargoyle type figures are on all the roof lines.
Great names for the buildings. My personal favorite was the "Hall of womanly delights"
Great names for the buildings. My personal favorite was the “Hall of womanly delights.”
Gateway to the Emperor's quarters.
Gateway to the Emperor’s quarters.
Fire pots, filled with water to fight fires in this wooden city. Fires burned underneath in winter to prevent freezing.
Fire pots, filled with water to fight fires in this wooden city. Fires burned underneath in winter to prevent freezing.
Pretty woman in her Panda hat visiting with Toni.
Pretty woman in her Panda hat visiting with Toni.
Moving towards the quarters of the Empress Dowager Cixi, generally considered a despotic character.
Moving towards the quarters of the Empress Dowager Cixi, generally considered a despotic character.
At the Dowager's Gate.
At the Dowager’s Gate.
Inside her compound.
Inside her compound.
Looking through protective glass into her living quarters. Since the last visit and our first tour of the Imperial Palace we have never thought the accommodations looked inviting or luxurious.
Looking through protective glass into her living quarters. Since the last visit and our first tour of the Imperial Palace, we have never thought the accommodations looked inviting or luxurious.
Always looks uncomfortably cold or miserably hot to me.
Always looks uncomfortably cold or miserably hot to me.
A pretty woman seemed to be stalking me the whole time there. She is across the way and taking my picture.
A pretty woman seemed to be stalking me the whole time there. She is across the way and taking my picture.
Really nice custom brass work on the doors.
Really nice custom brass work on the doors.
I do like the roof lines.
I do like the roof lines.
Her compound is right next to the Imperial Gardens. They take limestone rocks and put them in a lake for several years and the water creates holes. The rocks are retrieved and used in gardens.
Her compound is right next to the Imperial Gardens. They take limestone rocks and put them in a lake for several years and the water creates holes. The rocks are retrieved and used in gardens.
Mosaic tile work that over the centuries is being worn away.
Mosaic tile work that over the centuries is being worn away.

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The red tag on the tree means it is over 600 years old.
The red tag on the tree means it is over 600 years old.
Mosaic
Mosaic
Beautiful bark twisted and flowing up the tree.
Beautiful bark twisted and flowing up the tree.
A garden room.
A garden room.
They tag the trees based on their age. Many are over 600 years old.
They tag the trees based on their age. Many are over 600 years old.
The daily traffic is consistently high we are told.
The daily traffic is consistently high we are told.
The rocks and plants make a perfect balance for a garden.
The rocks and plants make a perfect balance for a garden.
Gold fish in the marble clad pond.
Gold fish in the marble clad pond.
Wonderful detail. Royally ornate.
Wonderful detail. Royally ornate.
Protected from all of us.
Protected from all of us.
The trees are spectacular in their age and beauty.
The trees are spectacular in their age and beauty.
So very old and once only touched by the most precious hands. Now worn from fingers of the masses shuffling through on a daily basis.
So very old and once only touched by the most precious hands. Now worn from fingers of the masses shuffling through on a daily basis.
Headed out of the Forbidden City. Guess how many rows of knobs on the doors.
Headed out of the Forbidden City. Guess how many rows of knobs on the doors.
The detail is excellent.
The detail is excellent.
I think this is all free hand painting.
I think this is all free hand painting.
The trees are very old and given whatever help they need to survive.
The trees are very old and given whatever help they need to survive.
The buildings, plants and rocks combine to make a beautiful Chinese garden.
The buildings, plants and rocks combine to make a beautiful Chinese garden.
The thresholds are all quite high, 8 to 9 inches. 14 years ago when we were here they were all like this one.
The thresholds are all quite high, 8 to 9 inches. 14 years ago when we were here they were all like this one.
Exiting.
Exiting.
The hill in front of us is the excavated dirt from the construction of the Forbidden City. There are a total of 5 pavilions built there.
The hill in front of us is the excavated dirt from the construction of the Forbidden City. There are a total of 5 pavilions built there.

While we were walking back to the bus, we saw several severely disfigured people (without limbs and burned) wanting money. There were also many other vendors selling their wares. Always interesting. Emily had already warned us to not look at them and don’t engage. It worked!

This poor fellow lost his left arm at the shoulder, had burns on his upper body and face, shirtless and was pretending to sing music playing on the machine. Emily warned us not to give as we would be inundasted with beggars.
This poor fellow lost his left arm at the shoulder, had burns on his upper body and face, shirtless and was pretending to sing music playing on the machine. Emily warned us not to give as we would be inundated with beggars.
The outer moat that protected the Imperial Palace.
The outer moat that protected the Imperial Palace.
Great little vehicles here.
Great little vehicles here.
Pretty woman, Andrew and Brandon seeing something amazing.
Pretty woman, Andrew and Brandon seeing something amazing.
Brandon, the snack king and fellow tourist, headed to our bus.
Brandon, the snack king and fellow tourist, headed to our bus.

We left that area and drove and saw some of the old city and hutongs. I asked Emily about Silk Alley and she said they were moving it into a mall area and it would be more expensive. We saw a different part of Forbidden City than we saw in 2002. Michael and I talked and we figured that Emily did this tour all the time so she just wanted the quickest and easiest route. We still managed to walk over 10,000 steps (according to Michael’s fitbit.)

China Tours, our host company, is headquartered out of this beehive looking building.
China Tours, our host company, is headquartered out of this beehive looking building.

After the exhausting march through the Square and Forbidden City (and then on to the bus), we got to rest on the bus on the ride to the pearl factory. We figured that’s the only way they can offer these tours so cheap is to have us go to different places (pearl factory, silk factory, Chinese medicine, tea factory) to be offered their “deals.” Emily and the lady inside the pearl factory told us that China is the leader in pearls. She explained that they can now get from 1 to 25 pearls in one shell. She then opened a shell up and took out around 20. She explained about the different colors and the prices.

Beautiful copper doors going into the pearl factory.
Beautiful copper doors going into the pearl factory.
As a young oyster they put up to 25 very small pieces of broken shell inside and they become the kernel around which the pearls grow.
As a young oyster they put up to 25 very small pieces of broken shell inside and they become the kernel around which the pearls grow.
Lots of merchandise reasonably priced. We just aren't into pearls.
Lots of merchandise reasonably priced. We just aren’t into pearls.
Local beer at the pearl factory.
Local beer at the pearl factory.

Emily had explained that for those that weren’t taking the optional tour in the afternoon, we would have to take a taxi from the pearl factory back to the hotel, or wherever we wanted to go. We finished at the pearl factory and walked outside to a busy street and were able to hail a cab quickly. Emily had written down the name of the mall and the name of our hotel in Chinese for the driver, which made it very nice for everyone. The drive was quite a ways and cost us a little over $3 US. Could not believe it as in the States it would have cost at least $50 for that distance.

Our taxi driver.
Our taxi driver.
I was trying to get a picture of this interesting building and accidentally caught 3 CCTV cameras. The locals call them ecops. Lots of tickets go out in the mail.
I was trying to get a picture of this interesting building and accidentally caught 3 CCTV cameras. The locals call them ecops. Lots of tickets go out in the mail.

The taxi driver let us out in front of the mall and we just walked in and looked around. It’s a huge mall. I believe Emily said it was the largest in Beijing, and I believe her. There were five floors of everything you could imagine. Emily said the “food court” was on the fifth floor. What Emily calls a food court and what we call a food court are totally different. The whole floor (and I’m talking about half a mile) was nothing but restaurant after restaurant, and these restaurants could seat at least 100 guests each. HUGE!

Our taxi leaves after dropping us off. We left the tour at the pearl factory and rode for at least 30 minutes, cost us about 3 dollars.
Our taxi leaves after dropping us off. We left the tour at the pearl factory and rode for at least 30 minutes, cost us about 3 dollars.
The mall is new and huge and very nice.
The mall is new and huge and very nice.
Nice kids play area.
Nice kids play area.
We were hungry and made our way straight to the fifth floor.
We were hungry and made our way straight to the fifth floor.
Escalators and elevators to move from floor to floor.
Escalators and elevators to move from floor to floor.
Trying to pick a place to eat. The mall is a good 10 blocks long and the fifth floor is one huge restaurant after another.
Trying to pick a place to eat. The mall is a good 10 blocks long and the fifth floor is one huge restaurant after another.

We finally settled on a hot pot type restaurant where you dip your meat or vegetable in boiling water and cook it and then dip it in sauce. The waiter didn’t speak any English but the menu had English subtitles that we could figure things out. We did ask for a Coke for me and the waiter brought water. We asked again and he brought some sugary thing that we weren’t sure what it was. Kinda fun.  We were finally able to communicate the drink I wanted.

We were told the 5th floor was a food court. Wrong, it is one huge restaurant after another, like 40 or 50 of them.
We were told the 5th floor was a food court. Wrong, it is one huge restaurant after another, like 40 or 50 of them.

We settled on a small platter of beef, some spinach thing, and a salad. Along with the dishes, we ordered peanut sauce and black bean sauce. The order arrived quickly and we acted like we knew what we were doing by dipping and eating. We even used our chop sticks. Everything was quite good. We especially enjoyed the roasted peanuts in the salad. Nice touch to it instead of croutons. The price was something like $18 US and the whole table was filled with food.

Pretty woman picking from pictures.
Pretty woman picking from pictures.
This table has an exaggerated length on the side and stops me from putting my leg under the table. Aghhhhh.
This table has an exaggerated length on the side and stops me from putting my leg under the table. Aghhhhh.
The crossbar at floor level drove me crazy and stopped me from putting my feet under the chair.
The crossbar at floor level drove me crazy and stopped me from putting my feet under the chair.
Boiling mushrooms in water and it was also the broth for boiling the meat.
Boiling mushrooms in water and it was also the broth for boiling the meat.
Excellent salad with a tasty dressing. Hot pot meat was also tasty.
Excellent salad with a tasty dressing. Hot pot meat was also tasty.
Spinach and peanut dish. Very delicious.
Spinach and peanut dish. Very delicious.

We walked around quite a bit and then left the mall and headed back to the hotel, only about two blocks or so, but stopped a short distance away and went into the fruit and vegetable store to look around. We ended up buying some freshly cut pineapple (done while in the store) for a dessert later in the evening. The rest of the walk back to the hotel was interesting in that we were about the only white people out walking with the locals.

Mall train chugging along.
Mall train chugging along.
Children and parents in tow, the little ones are very precious here.
Children and parents in tow, the little ones are very precious here.
Edie wanted me to buy the flower suit.
Edie wanted me to buy the flower suit.
But I held out for the zig zag one.
But I held out for the zig zag one.
Neat baby carriage.
Neat baby carriage.
China's version of a bench at the mall. Take a rest, then get back to shopping.
China’s version of a bench at the mall. Take a rest, then get back to shopping.
Many puppies for sale.
Many puppies for sale.
Possibly, cutest puppy in the world. It was rolling around. Edie spotted it, I looked and insisted it was a Gerbil.
Possibly, cutest puppy in the world. It was rolling around. Edie spotted it, I looked and insisted it was a Gerbil.
Electric cart with mother and child went cruising by.
Electric cart with mother and child cruising by.
They had a bunch of them ready to go.
They had a bunch of them ready to go.
We were in a fruit and vegetable store and I liked the ad calling it China's fast food.
We were in a fruit and vegetable store and I liked the ad calling it China’s fast food.
Huge Chinese Cabbage.
Huge Chinese cabbage.
Some of those 2 foot long green beans.
Some of those 2 foot long green beans.
Beautiful carrots.
Beautiful carrots.
Once, I knew the name of these. Not star, not dragon...
Once, I knew the name of these. Not star, not dragon…
OMG, from Watsonville, California!!
OMG, from Watsonville, California!!
Excellent looking merchandise.
Excellent looking merchandise.
Had a nice Whole Foods feel to it.
Had a nice Whole Foods feel to it.
Walking back, I was struck by the cages on the patios thinking they were installed to prevent robbery. It was later explained it is to guard against children falling.
Walking back, I was struck by the cages on the patios thinking they were installed to prevent robbery. It was later explained it is to guard against children falling.
Our most comfortable hotel. The Four Points by Sheraton.
Our most comfortable hotel. The Four Points by Sheraton.

We took a nap when we got back to the hotel. Emily had told us about a massage person who comes to your room for around $40 US for a 90 minute massage. I told her I wanted one and it was scheduled for 7 PM. Right at 7 PM the masseuse arrived and went to work. She had me take off my shirt (because of oil) and covered me with a towel. She did a good job and by the time she was finishing up, I was asleep.

Around 9 PM, we were getting hungry again so we ordered room service. It’s a little spendy but we didn’t feel like going out. We got a club sandwich with fries and a bowl of won ton soup. It cost something like $30 US. The delivery was very quick and the Chinese man who delivered it brought back the change that was meant for his tip. Michael had to explain that it was for him. I guess it’s not really common to tip in China.

After dinner it was time to try to get some sleep and adjust more to China time. That was our day. Hope yours was great!