Two of the main tourist attractions in the city. Located at the main streets of Beijing. Around are the national museums and government buildings.
Tian'an Men square. It is called the Square of the Gate if Heavenly Peace.
It's a concrete expanse at the heart of the modern city of Bijing.
It is bordered by Communist-style buildings and ancient gates from the now leveled city walls.
It also serced as a stage for demonstrations.
Behind is the Monument to the People's Heroes.
It was erected in 1958, displays bas-releifs of China's revolutionary history and calligraphy
from Communist veterans.
The Mao's Mausoleum - contains the embalmed body of Chairman Mao.
The building is flanked by revolutionary statues.
We wanted so much to get in there but we were not allowed to bring our cameras and bags. Unfortunately we were not travelling with anyone with whom we can leave our things. Ugh, pity. It could be one of my most memorable thing in this trip.
that's the line of people going to the Mausoleum. it probably takes few hours to get in and out of there. whew!
National Mourning.
The flag was half-raised that day as a symbol of national mourning due to the recent earthquake in Qinghai province. Ahh, now I really thought that I missed the flag raising ceremony. i would have been somewhat touching.
foreign media was present too. some girls uttering prayers either for the victims of the earthquake or for their country which caught the tourists and media's attention.
journalist or not, sure he thought it would be a nice capture, we even got one ourselves ",)
Forbidden City.
Just across the street is the Forbidden City Gates with Chairman Mao's portrait on it.
it was completed in 1420. It was a grand monument to 24 emperors who ruled from here.
It is a symbolic center of Chinese universe, this palace was the exclusive domain of the imperial court and dignitaries until the abdication in 1912.
It was opened to public in 1949.
The Ming Dynasty Gate - is where Chairman Mao proclaimed the founding of the people's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. His portrait still remains there.
The bridge (not very visible) are the Five marble Bridges - symbolic of the Five Cardinal Virtues of Confucianism, cross the golden water.
entering the Forbidden City together with the whole bunch of crowd.
the massive door. i was able to sneak very fast, caused a little traffic but was able to make a picture of me alone hehe
it's a tunnel after the door
one of Beijing's most recgnizable icon
- the pillar of clouds which is also found at the temple of Heaven.
souvenir shop. we decided to buy a mask fro Beijing opera's characters so we can use for pictures ",)
that's his mask. some people were making pictures of him too, ah whatever...we also make pictures of others whenever we something interesting hehe
and this is mine. he dared me to walk in the crowd like this. i did! and of course we attracted attention hehehe
i'm not sure, she wants my mask? she wants to know who i am? i don't know... you tell me hehe
ok, enough of our foolishness. here come's another set.
the military men who were in charge of raising and retreating the flag at the Tian'an men Square.
i finally was able to get a closer look of them, not in action though. i think they have training everyday.
whoah standing like this the whole day everyday...
just another close shot. i remember when i was a kid i used to look up to "men in uniform".
sometimes when they are passing by my school in a big truck full of them, i would stop, wait until all the trucks would pass, i would even wave at them. i don't know, i always admire them for their courage and will to serve the country. it was once my dream to be a soldier but my grandpa and my brothers would just laugh at me because i was very small and i still am. my height wont even pass the requirement lol.
later, the military's reputation in Philippines did not sound very well anymore. i was growing up getting disappointed and scared of them. when i was a kid, i feel safe when i see them, later i feel endangered when they are around. i'm not talking about everybody, still there are those who are honest to their duties. my uncle is a soldier and i'm still proud of him.
one thing i like in here, is that there not too much anomalies in the military service. people respect and fears them which i like because i think that is the way they supposed to be. someone in the society has to be feared and it must be the authority who keeps peace and harmony.
some tourists who bought themselves the famous Mao cap and Communist bags. they are sold everywhere as souvenirs.
the Gates to Supreme Harmony - originally used for receiving visitors, was later used for banquets during Qing dynasty.
We ended up here, we didn't get inside anymore. There was a huge crowd and I'm sure we're gonna be able to get the picture we wanted. the flow goes too fast that I cannot even stop and check details of every scene. We decided to walk around the garden instead.
at the garden is the view of the Meridian Gate, which was used by the emperor to review his armies and perform ceremonies marking the start of a new calendar.
the road (newly constucted in modern times) just around the walls of the Forbidden City
and a lake at the back which water goes to the Bei Hai park. Behind are local houses.
It was actually a cold day and we thought of going to the Drum and bell tower but the weather was not very pleasant. We also did not wear or bring with us some thicker jackets, cause we thought that winter is over hehe. We ended up eating somewhere at Wang Fu Jing again and later stayed at the malls which was a very dangerous activity ... cause we are very prone to shopping haha.
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