Just another day
when I visited Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City. As with everything in China scope and scale are amazing. Not sure what I was expecting but I got multiples of it. The Square is massive and really defines the scale of Beijing as no building can be taller than the People’s Hall (just like the Capital in DC.). The huge color painting of Mao dominates one side. It is replaced every year and is currently brand new. He doesn’t look a day over 80.
The Forbidden City is vast. You could spend several days there and not see it all. We were there with throngs of Chinese. Emperors, Empresses, concubines and eunuchs pervade all. Hard to imagine much of it was built 2300 years ago. Also, Feng Shui trumps all.
Only negative is Beijing is horribly polluted. Today was an otherwise beautiful day but not a hint of blue sky. Gray brown haze. The implications of this for Beijing residents can not be good. Shanghai has pollution but nothing close to this.
We are staying at an incredible place right adjacent to the “Summer Palace.” We have some special access which we plan to take advantage of before we leave.
One thing I would like you to think about: do people who have spent their lives reading and writing characters instead of letters think and developed differently? Heard an official say this the other night. I have never considered it before.
