The Rose is the Official Flower of Bejing. Thus roses are found everywhere in Bejing. Here is an example along the major freeway in Beijing as we are in a taxi on the way to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
Terry and Eunice at the edge of Tiananmen Square with the entrance to the Forbidden City in the background.
The Great Hall of the People is located on the West side of Tiananmen Square. This Hall is where the People's Congress meets.
Tiananmen Square is fenced off and security checks are performed as you enter the square. We, however, were waved through security without being checked. The builidng in the background is the National Museum, which is undergoing renovation.
On the south side of Tiananmen Square is Chairman Mao's Memorial. It contains the body of Chairman Mao.
Terry and Eunice in front of Mao's Memorial and tomb.
There is a very long line waiting to see Mao's Crystal Coffin where Mao's body can be viewed.
People were selling National Flags on Tiananmen Square. We bought two flags for 15 cents each.
Another view of the Hall of the People west of Tiananmen Square.
Eunice and Qing with the entrance to the Forbidden City in the background.
Eunice and Qing discuss the way to cross the busy street from Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City.
Eunice and Terry with Chairman Mao's portrait behind them on the entrance to the Forbidden City.
The approach to the Forbidden City.
Crossing the bridge to enter.
As you look through the multiple gates, it is like looking through to infinity as gate opens on gate opening on more gates.
Terry (with audio tour box on) and Eunice in the first inner courtyard.
There is much renovation taking place in the Forbidden City
Terry and Eunice again in second inner courtyard.
Another view of the second inner courtyard.
Eunice and Qing in front of one of the traditional painted buildings.
On the roof wings of traditional buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, are "water animals" thought to ward off fires.
This is the throne room of the palace.
This is a stone carving in the middle of a long stairway to the palace. The emporer was carried in the middle over the stone by his carriers who walked on the steps. It is carved out of one large piece of stone.
A lion statue outside the palace.
A long view of a palace building.
Eunice stands in front of a crane statue in the Forbidden city.
An entrance gate.
We approach the end of our tour of the Forbidden City and the last of the many courtyards within courtyards.
Our taxi driver from the Forbidden City to the area where we will have lunch used “worry walnuts” to calm his nerves as he drove. He took us to a shopping area near the Forbidden City, with a food court with many small shops selling traditional regional food.
Corn on the Cob is very popular in Beijing for lunch.
Another lady enjoys a lunch of corn.
This shop specializes in selling corn on the cob.
Here the speciality is a pastry.
And here bean curd with vegetables is on the menu.
Meat can be purchased here. The vendor removed his hygenic face mask for the photo.
We explore with Qing the center city market area.
An old pump for a water well in the street.
The street scene in this market section of Beijing.
Where one can find a lovely bunch of coconuts.
Or Chestnuts, if you prefer.
Note the man drinking coconut milk through a straw as he shops
These ladies are eating a fruit that is very popular in Beijing, that is something like candied crabapples on a stick.
Qing takes Terry and Eunice to a famous “HotPot” restaurant for Lamb and Beef and Vegetables which we cook at our table.
Eunice enjoys the Chinese Beer.
Terry likes the lamb.
Both Eunice and Terry enjoy the Beer.
Qing and Eunice say goodbye to the ram in the Lobby.
This restaurant is famous in Beijing for its HotPot Dinners.
If you look at the sign in the center, it is in Arabic indicating that they conform to Muslim food laws. There are many Islamic Chinese in the western part of China.
This McDonald's has the five Olympic babies posted on its sign. Also note that this, and many McDonalds in Beijing are open 24 hours 7 days a week. So whenever you need a Big Mac, McDonalds is there.
And if you want ice cream, one or two cones (as the young man can testify with two cones in his hand) McDonald's is also there.
On the way back to the hotel, we pass one of the many enhanced motorbikes.
But these bicycles with truck beds are also very prevalant in Beijing. They are used to haul many products from water bottles to coal.
