What a Day! Part 2 - Forbidden City & Peking Duck
We drove to the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square. Tian'anmen Square is much larger than I expected.
There is a building on each side of the square:
The National Museum of China
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall - where tons of people wait in long lines to go in and pay respects.
The Great Hall of the People
And the South entrance to the Forbidden City (That's Mao on the building)
We went into Forbidden City, unfortunately most of it is under construction for the 2008 Olympics. This place is HUGE. You could easily spend several days inside of it. There are lots of small vendors inside, hidden in little shops with very small signs. I hear there is a Starbucks, very well could have been. If there is, it doesn't have any signs outside. It is was called the Forbidden City because it was only for Emperors and its family and staff. Common folk were never allowed in.
Here's me & Mao
The main building in FC. This is the most important building in the FC. And it was closed! They were nice enough to paint what it would look like for us.
It ends with a beautiful garden. I was very tired by then so it was nice to see the end!
There are four guard houses on each corner of the Forbidden City.
It was amazing to walk through, it really is big enough to be its own city.
We went back to the hotel to shower and then we went to our Peking Duck dinner. It was AMAZING (and cheap!). I think we had at least 7 courses, the duck had wonderful flavor. You dip the skin in sugar and it is surprisingly fabulous (and full of fat!). We went to the most famous (and best) restaurant in town. It was only about $150 for 13 of us to eat!
(I'll try to post more duck pics when I get them from my peers)
We had a class meeting to prepare for today and then I passed out as soon as I hit the pillow. But I was happy that I was able to sleep until 6am this morning.
Today we're going to the Embassy and then to visit with Cummins. We are having a pizza lunch with Cummins and I think we're all ready for that. After we are visiting with the President of the Indiana University Alumni Group here in Beijing.
posted by Chrissy @ 6:54 PM
5 Comments:
A long day but the sights you got to see and the memories. Love the pics
Did anybody eat the head of the duck? I heard the guest of honor gets to eat it.
Wow what an experience that looks like fun.
This is so cool!!!
Side note: guess who's going to the Pepsi 400 this weekend. Yep! Night racing in Daytona..woohoo.
of course..it doesn't trump China. =)
I love visiting China vicariously!
Mommy: we miss you and want you to come home soon. Not that Uncle Brian isn't fun to bite and play with (and has a very comfortable tummy to lay on and sleep), but we do miss our mama. We have been very good, and would love for you to make us duck some time!
Love, Sparky and Miss Kitty
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