Express train No. 14 to Beijing, 1462 km

Trip Start Apr 06, 2008
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Trip End Jun 20, 2008


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Where I stayed
Huatong International Youth Hostel
(Beijing hotels)

Flag of China  , Beijing,
Thursday, April 10, 2008

Beijing's main train station is completely wrapped with bamboo tubes.The building is in renovation in anticipation for this summer's Olympic games.Later on, I will find out that this is not really the only beautification going on at the moment, there is construction, renovation and painting work taking place in all parts of the city.
On Tiananmen Square, the worlds biggest public square, I make the compulsory photo of Chairman Mao Tse Tung, and later on I visit the Mausoleum with his body in a transparent crystal glass coffin, covered with the red flag of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).Thousands of people still fall in line, and wait patiently for their turn.It's my third visit here..the first one 1980, just 4 years after Mao's death!
There is much security controls on Tiananmen Square, also the baggage is searched, but with tourists the policemen are less strict, I had the impression.After all, they dont come here, to make troubles, but they want to enjoy the incredibly beautiful atmosphere of this unique square, surrounded by its monumental buidings in the Stalinist styles of the 1950's.In sharp contrast to the capitalist shopping ambiance on the nearby Wangfujing street
where most of the famous fashion brands have their boutiques nowadays, and still lots of construction going on.
Just a few houses besides, there is the traditional Snack street, with grilled seahorses, cockroaches and other vitamin donors!I ordered some delicious chinese dumplings, instead, with meat BBQ's on long wooden sticks!. Tiananmen Square with Mao's portrait
Tiananmen Square with Mao's portrait
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