Day 2 in Beijing

Day 2 in Beijing

We had a very full day today. After breakfast, we drove to Tiananmen Square. Even though I've seen it on TV many times, I couldn't get over the size of it (over 10,000 square meters, I think). You could easily fit a million or more people there, and I think a good chunk of them were there today! So many people, mostly families on vacation, it looked like. A long, snaking line of people, probably ten thousand or more, was quietly waiting their turn to pay their respects and file past the body of Chairman Mao, which is housed in a huge building at one end of the square.

We saw the Chinese congress building and most famously, the Tiananmen Rostrum, the big building with the picture of Chairman Mao on it. You can see it behind us in one of the pictures.

Then, we walked through a tunnel that was built under the large highway that runs between the square and the entrance to the Forbidden City. The highway is 16 lanes wide.

The Forbidden City was massive. I can't even describe how huge it is. The outer gates are bigger than most castles, I think. It took us about twenty minutes to pass through the two outer gates and courtyards, and that was just the section for the emperor's offices. The first emperor began buidling the Forbidden City in the late 1400s, and it was the home of 24 emperors. The reign of emperors ended in 1911 and the city was opened up to the public.

The boys were all awestruck to walk where the emperors walked. It was a very surreal experience.

One funny thing that has happened several times is when Chinese people want to take pictures of you. Actually, the boys have had this experience several times. One lady grabbed Jacob's arm and I thought she wanted him to take a picture of her, but she wanted to take his picture with her young daughter. A man grabbed Eric by the arm and stroked his nose and started smiling and laughing. I don't know what the nose was all about, but then he pointed to Eric's arm and then his beard. I think he was impressed (or amused) by Eric's hairiness. Most Chinese do not have much arm or facial hair. I snapped a picture, it was too funny.

Luke has had his picture made a few times, too, and I've seen people take pictures of Eli. They are quite interesting to people, apparently. And I must brag on them, they are really getting into the experience. They are trying the food (well, Eli's not too happy about that) and trying to speak to people in Chinese, and just soaking it all in. It has been great to see them experiencing the culture. They are good ambassadors for Hickman County!

As we were leaving the Forbidden City, we saw several people begging. It was sad for us and we didn't know what to do. Our hearts went out to them, but our agency and guides had instructed us not to give anything. It was a difficult moment. One lady followed Eric; she had a small child in her arms, about one year old, and he kept his hands together the whole time, like he was praying. The lady kept walking alongside him, even after he repeatedly shook his head and said, "Bu yao, xie xie (We don't want to give, thank you). He didn't know what to do, so he called for our guide, Maggie, who is Chinese. She told the lady, "He told you he doesn't want to give. Leave him alone, please." Then the lady said some words really fast in Chinese. Eric asked Maggie what she said, and she said, "She say bad word to me!" and laughed. She told us that most of the people in that area are not really destitute, it's how they make a living. She even doubted that the child belonged to the lady. Still sad, though.

After the Forbidden City, we had lunch and then we visited a pearl market, where a lady explained how pearls are made and even showed us some oysters. She gave the boys two pearls each. We bought a small strand for Lilli and they made a necklace and bracelet for her that she can make one longer strand as she grows.

Then we went to the Summer Palace, the vacation residence of the emperor. It was so crowded and we were so tired of being shoulder to shoulder with people that we didn't take many pictures. We were just trying to survive it. It was very beautiful, though, I can imagine how peaceful it must have been for just the emperor and his people.

After dinner, we came back to the room and pretty much went to bed. On Sunday, we're going to church and then to the Great Wall! It is Luke's birthday, and I hope we can do something special for him. That sounds weird . .. . what could we do that's more special than taking him to one of the ancient wonders of the world?!

Enjoy the pics from this busy day! Should be uploaded soon!