BEIJING - SEPTEMBER, 2014

This was my third trip to Beijing. I was last there in November, 2013, but wanted to return because many of the sights [such as Tiananmen Square] were closed because of security surrounding the 10 year People's Congress being held at that time. On my first day there I returned to Tiananmen Square, where security was again very tight because of preparations for the National Day celebration that was to be held there a couple of days later. When I exited the subway I joined a line going through security screening. Anytime you get in a line in China it is always an adventure because the Chinese do not believe in lines. As you are patiently waiting, people around you are always trying to cut in line ahead of you. After so many trips to China I have developed a strong set of elbows, and I almost enjoy the battle to maintain my place in line against those trying to cut in front.

On the south end of the square are two gates, the Zhengyangmen Gate and the Shenyangmen [Arrow Tower] which were the means of passing through the wall that formerly surrounded the entire city of Beijing.  After entering the square I entered the Zhengyangmen Gate, went inside and climbed to the top for a view of the Arrow Tower to the south, and a view over Tiananmen Square to the north.

Also, from the top of the Zhengyangmen Gate you could have a direct view over the back of the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall where Chairman Mao's body is preserved and on view.

As you enter the square itself, you pass by two large memorials commemorating the Chinese Revolution.

Tiananmen Square is the largest public square in the world. It is surrounded on all sides by various public buildings [such as the Great Hall of the People, and the China National Museum], the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the Monument to the People's Heroes.

Inside the square preparations were underway for the upcoming National Holiday celebration which would be held there [like our Fourth of July]. In the square was a large floral arrangement which would be the backdrop for speeches from the Chinese political leaders on the celebration day.

On the north end of the square you had a view of the Tiananmen Gate with its iconic picture of Chairman Mao. This gate serves as the entryway into the Forbidden City.

On my first morning in Beijing I looked out the window of my hotel room and saw a beautiful clear day, which is unusual for the normally heavily polluted air in Beijing which severely limits the view. My view this time from the hotel was over an older residential area behind the hotel. It was interesting to view the normal daily habits of the people in the neighborhood, taking their kids to school, going to work, and shopping in the local stores.

On Sunday morning of my stay in Beijing I took the subway, and after a short walk I went into the Ritan Park, which is a beautiful local park in a residential area of Beijing. Here the locals walk, exercise, do traditional Chinese dances, ball room dancing, and play sports such as volleyball and badminton.

Next to the park I passed a restaurant that served Russian food. This area formerly had a substantial Russian population and is near to the Russian Embassy today.

On my last trip to Beijing, after leaving the Forbidden City, I went to a park north of the Forbidden City called Jingshan Park. This park has a large hill which was formed from the excavation of dirt from the construction of the moats surrounding the Forbidden City. From the top of that hill, viewing to the west, I could see Beihai Lake, which is surrounded by a very beautiful park. I decided on my next trip to Beijing that I would explore this park. Taking the subway from my hotel, and after a short walk, I came to Beihai Park. The park has a large lake, with an island connected by two bridges to the shore. On the island is a large white pagoda which is reached by climbing a large set of steep stairways leading to the top. I spent about one half of a day there exploring the park and the island. It was very beautiful, and provided a great glimpse of normal Chinese people enjoying the outdoors. There were restaurants around the park, and you could rent boats to travel on the water. People were walking with their families, playing musical instruments, and just enjoying themselves as a respite from the large city of Beijing.

I always enjoy walking through local neighborhoods when I visit foreign cities. These are a  couple of pictures of the neighborhood that I walked through from the subway station to Beihai Park and back. Returning to the subway station people were just beginning to line up for lunch.

On my last day in Beijing I took the subway to the Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park. This park contains the only remaining portion of the wall that formerly completely surrounded the city of Beijing. That wall was torn down when a circular ring road around the perimeter of Beijing was constructed. This remaining portion of the wall has been reconstructed, but certain areas have been preserved to show what the original wall construction looked like.

I enjoyed this trip to Beijing very much, and would look forward to coming back again in the future.