Tian'anmen Square

Tian'amen Square was THE place to people watch. As a major tourist attraction for Chinese citizens we were in the middle of a cultural melting pot. Chairman Mao's mausoleum is a perennial attraction as Chinese file through to pay their respects. We did not see Mao's remains, but there was a very large portrait of him on one of the buildings with large Chinese characters on either side. Alice translated these as "long live the People's Republic of China," and "all the people of the world united together."

Note the picture of us with the very friendly girls from the Anti-explosion Security Check team. And, as you will have noticed over and over again, Chinese people are delighted when you ask to pose for pictures with their children. They also are not shy about asking us, as foreigners, to pose for photos with them. Kinda makes us feel like celebrities!

- Peggy