Tienanmen Square and the National Museum - Beijing, China - April 23rd - 24th, 2012
What a last few eventful days it has been...
I recently got back from Beijing and have much to write about over the next few days. Some things will be on for the faith blog (On the ancient religion of China and how the Emperor played a part in all of it...you'll see when I get to those entries), to other parts about China and the rich history that lies in this enormous fascinating city.
Well it started with Randy and I flying over with a group of 42 other Chinese tourists. We arrived at night and then slept (this was on the 23rd). The room we were in wasn't as nice as the places we've gone to on our own but it worked when traveling, but it worked. It was on the bus ride to it we met our guide Henry. His hometown is close to Xi'an and he's been a tour guide for both cities (Xi'an and Beijing) for years! He's a really cool and kind guy. He does tours with western tour groups so it was a bit of a shock for him what the tour group would have in store.
The next day we woke up at 6am. Some of the others had woken up earlier to go to Tienanmen Square to see the flag raising ceremony (we would go later to see it our last day in Beijing. We would still go to that area though since we would be seeing part of the National Museum and the Forbidden City that morning.
That National Museum is amazing! We went through the Ancient China exhibit which had artifacts from the Qing Dynasty all the way back to the Xia Dynasty and Neolithic era. There are 3 sections and we only had time to through one. If I get the chance to return I plan on visiting that museum again.
The Forbidden City
Next was the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is truly like a city in size. At the first gate is where the painting of Mao is located (which is replaced yearly) as well as having the drum and bell on each side which would be rung by the Emperor to announce which Temple he'd be going to to make offerings to Heaven.
Once inside there were so many pavilions. Each was competing to be more about harmony and peace. Which is important in any family or country but I think also hid the fact that things were not always harmonious among the royals...which in turn made it a bit ironic. I made a joke about if I were Emperor creating a new pavillion in the city called "The Pavilion of Grand peaceful peacefulness and Great Ultimate Harmony" and then have it filled with loud birds and instruments.
The legacy of this city is fascinating and there is much to see in it...I would prefer to the Temple of Heaven which we would see later, and I'll explain why in that entry (which will also be a faith blog entry).
I recently got back from Beijing and have much to write about over the next few days. Some things will be on for the faith blog (On the ancient religion of China and how the Emperor played a part in all of it...you'll see when I get to those entries), to other parts about China and the rich history that lies in this enormous fascinating city.
Well it started with Randy and I flying over with a group of 42 other Chinese tourists. We arrived at night and then slept (this was on the 23rd). The room we were in wasn't as nice as the places we've gone to on our own but it worked when traveling, but it worked. It was on the bus ride to it we met our guide Henry. His hometown is close to Xi'an and he's been a tour guide for both cities (Xi'an and Beijing) for years! He's a really cool and kind guy. He does tours with western tour groups so it was a bit of a shock for him what the tour group would have in store.
The next day we woke up at 6am. Some of the others had woken up earlier to go to Tienanmen Square to see the flag raising ceremony (we would go later to see it our last day in Beijing. We would still go to that area though since we would be seeing part of the National Museum and the Forbidden City that morning.
That National Museum is amazing! We went through the Ancient China exhibit which had artifacts from the Qing Dynasty all the way back to the Xia Dynasty and Neolithic era. There are 3 sections and we only had time to through one. If I get the chance to return I plan on visiting that museum again.
The Forbidden City
Next was the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is truly like a city in size. At the first gate is where the painting of Mao is located (which is replaced yearly) as well as having the drum and bell on each side which would be rung by the Emperor to announce which Temple he'd be going to to make offerings to Heaven.
Once inside there were so many pavilions. Each was competing to be more about harmony and peace. Which is important in any family or country but I think also hid the fact that things were not always harmonious among the royals...which in turn made it a bit ironic. I made a joke about if I were Emperor creating a new pavillion in the city called "The Pavilion of Grand peaceful peacefulness and Great Ultimate Harmony" and then have it filled with loud birds and instruments.
The legacy of this city is fascinating and there is much to see in it...I would prefer to the Temple of Heaven which we would see later, and I'll explain why in that entry (which will also be a faith blog entry).