Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and The Hutong Tour...Whew!

Today started early once again. We have given up trying to totally adjust to the time change. We went to sleep at 7:45 pm and woke up at 5:45 am. 10 hours of sleep that feels like six by the time evening rolls around again.


We started our tour today with our guide Joy at Tiananmen Square. This is pretty much the government center of China. There were huge amounts of people from all over China and the world visiting the square and the adjoining Forbidden City. Visiting the square and the Forbidden City is the equivalent of visiting The Mall in Washington D.C. Only the Chinese version offers a couple thousand years of government history.

As soon as we stepped off of the bus we were bombarded by vendors selling numerous goods, everything from watches to big fur lined hats with red stars on the front. We quickly learned the words Bu Yao which mean "I don't want" or "no'. We must have said this 100 times today. We broke down to the pressure twice. I bought a Beijing stocking hat because it was a little cold today. Heather bought a torquiose bag because she liked it.

We walked the entire square and through all of the Forbidden City. The whole distance is a little over a mile. We started at 9:15 and finished walking through at about 1:00. The forbidden City is where the former Emporers of China used to govern the country. Tiananmen Square is where the new government is located. It was a long walk, but well worth it.

After finishing our walk, we took a short bus ride to the Hutong area of Beijing. This area can be dated back to the Mongolian rule of China. The people that live here have done so for several generations. We took a Rickshaw ride through Hutong. A guy pedalled a bicycle while we rode behind him on a seat for two. This was by far the most "real" look of China we have seen so far. We were invited into a man's home during the ride. He offered us jasmine tea and told us about his family through an interpreter. He was a Kung Fu teacher. At the end of our visit he showed me a Kung Fu pose as I held one of his swords. This was one of our coolest experiences so far.

At 2:30 today we were on the bus. Heather yelled out, "We get our daughter in 24 hours!" and then teared up a bit. The next time we post we will have Katie! Pray for safe travel as we fly to Guangzhou in the morning to get her. Also pray for Ellie, who is missing her mom and dad.