4/19/18 Wednesday
Last night flight: We left at 5pm Monday night and arrived in Beijing Tuesday night 7pm.
The start of the flight
Mid-Flight...
Arrival after 14 hour flight in Beijing!
We meet Grace who will be our guide for our time in Beijing.
Wednesday 4/19/18
After arriving to the hotel last night and trying to reset our clocks to Beijing time, we woke up early due to the jet lag.
We ate breakfast and then we met Grace to start the day.
Our first stop was the largest city square in the world, Tianeman Square. As we exited the van, Grace made it clear that we could not talk about politics. If the guards heard such discussion, they might harass us and inquire to see our passports and visas.
Tianeman Square is centered around the first leader of the People Republic of China and the Communist Party. Mao Zedong in 1949 took control after the the revolution of 20 years during which the end of the dynastic rein of emperors .
The square is comprised of a museum on one side, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, a government building, and the entrance to the Forbidden city.
There was an incredibly long line to see the Tomb of Mao Zedong and they could only see be in the building for 2-3 minutes.
Mao Zedong Tomb and the line to see it.
Entrance to the forbidden city with painting of Mao Zedong. They repaint the picture every year.
Mao opened the Forbidden City to the public when he became the first Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China. Previously only the emperor and his officials could enter.
The Forbidden city is the Palace for the Emperor. It has 9900 rooms and walls surrounding it for protection.
Looking out to Tianaman Square from the Emperors Road
There are seven doors to go through to the Emperors Palace, similar to these.
The number of animal on the roof symbolize the importance of the building.
The Emperor’s Thrown
The Dragon is a smbol of power: Camel Head, Serpant body and Eagle Tallans.
This is the fire departments. The Palace has burned down a few times and they needed to rebuild it, so they had water containers in case of a fire. They would melt the water under the caldron in the winter.
Tuk Tuk to a local home to learn to make dumplings for lunch.
The neighborhood
The kids were pretty good at making the dumplings and even better at eating them!
Our host and the delicious lunch!
We visited the new hospital where they had many high tech assistance. This particular one is an information robot, but he/she doesn’t understand English (or Chinese). Not quite ready for prime time.
Kung Fu show. Hayden is ready to break some iron rods over his head.
Peking duck for dinner. 7pm and we were almost all asleep at the dinner table from the long day and jetlag.
Fast asleep as soon as we got back to the hotel!
Tianeman Square is centered around the first leader of the People Republic of China and the Communist Party. Mao Zedong in 1949 took control after the the revolution of 20 years during which the end of the dynastic rein of emperors .
The square is comprised of a museum on one side, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, a government building, and the entrance to the Forbidden city.
There was an incredibly long line to see the Tomb of Mao Zedong and they could only see be in the building for 2-3 minutes.
Mao Zedong Tomb and the line to see it.
Entrance to the forbidden city with painting of Mao Zedong. They repaint the picture every year.
Mao opened the Forbidden City to the public when he became the first Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China. Previously only the emperor and his officials could enter.
The Forbidden city is the Palace for the Emperor. It has 9900 rooms and walls surrounding it for protection.
Looking out to Tianaman Square from the Emperors Road
There are seven doors to go through to the Emperors Palace, similar to these.
The number of animal on the roof symbolize the importance of the building.
The Emperor’s Thrown
The Dragon is a smbol of power: Camel Head, Serpant body and Eagle Tallans.
This is the fire departments. The Palace has burned down a few times and they needed to rebuild it, so they had water containers in case of a fire. They would melt the water under the caldron in the winter.
Tuk Tuk to a local home to learn to make dumplings for lunch.
The neighborhood
The kids were pretty good at making the dumplings and even better at eating them!
Our host and the delicious lunch!
We visited the new hospital where they had many high tech assistance. This particular one is an information robot, but he/she doesn’t understand English (or Chinese). Not quite ready for prime time.
Kung Fu show. Hayden is ready to break some iron rods over his head.
Peking duck for dinner. 7pm and we were almost all asleep at the dinner table from the long day and jetlag.
Fast asleep as soon as we got back to the hotel!
What a day! Remind me again how old the kids are? This trip is going to be so amazing! Thank you for sharing. What kind of places are you sleeping in along the way? Who is schooling the kids? You guys? I have so many questions:).
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