Day 8 Wed Oct 12

Tiananmen Square was first on the attractions today.  We bussed in through the smog and arrived.  A huge place – thousands and thousands of people in the square.  Our guides told us the story about the student protests June 4^th 1989 when many students were killed in riots.  Many of the students were protesting and wouldn’t move from the square because it was the peoples place.  They stood fast when the troops moved in.  It was sad that the army came in and killed many of them but also the moment in time was seen when the sole student stood in front of the tank stopping the tank from moving forward.  The guides told us that they could tell us in the square but only on the bus because the guards etc in the square will not allow this to happen.

One of the group came across a similar thing when we ran into a group of Aussies and a NZ black fern flag came and was being waved at the Aussies yelling ‘Go the Blacks’.  The guard quickly came over and tried to take the flag.  Any kind of protest or unusual behaviour is shut  down very quick.  They are very sensitive. 

The square was expansive and Chairman Mao’s tomb was pointed out.  The Assembly and a communist museum bounded the square.  All the Chinese were waiting about an hour to go into his tomb for a 2 minute look.  Chairman Mao sits inside a crystal tomb.  Our guide is unsure if it is really him or whether it is a wax replica??  Who knows!

On the end of the square is the Forbidden City.  This is a city from the emperial dynasties and was the place where the emperor lived.  It was called the forbidden city because the average person could not or was not allowed to enter the city.  If they did without permission they were killed.  Only high standing officials were allowed into the city. 

The 72 hectare city housed 1000’s of people that were there to serve the emperor.  All the emperors were male except one who was female.  The emperor had 3000 concubines and 6000 eunuch in the palace.  To look after them he had 9999.5 rooms.  The 0.5 room was for the emperor and heaven.  He had a hierarchy of wives – the first set were the qualified wives.  The next and the next served the emperor.  At any time he can sleep with any of the concubines.  None of the concubines could marry.  The eunuch were servants and looked after the concubines.  The first level wives were the ones that had children.  The emperor had many children.  In those days disease was rife and out of say 40 children only 20 would survive due to the illnesses they would get.  The emperor would pick his successor.  It does not mean the eldest will be emperor.  He selects and has the name written on a scroll which he has on him all the time.  Another copy is kept in a wooden box at the top of the rafters at the entrance of the house the emperor lives in.  Once he dies the officials open the box and then match it with the emperors scroll.  Many new emperors were young and could not take office until they turned the right age so a counsel would be put in place to run the state of affairs until the young emperor was of age.

The emperor’s palace had three or four residence which he stayed in.  Each of these residents he would move in and out of through the year.  This kept him safe from enemies that wanted to kill him.  The emperors were ruthless and had to be to protect their dynasty and themselves.

Within the residence were many spaces for pray and meditation.  Also around the palaces there were big iron pots.  These pots were used to prevent fire.  If there was a fire then the fire could be put out with the water from the cauldrons.  The city was a fortress with many gates and the detail in the buildings. 

The many people from Tiananmen Square all poured into the forbidden city.  It was busy, busy, busy! Once again we can say that this trip was certainly as educational tour of Chinese history.  Beautiful buildings and compared to NZ history we are still very young compared to the Chinese.

We got back on the bus and went to the Huong Tong tour.  We did a number of activities.

1.      We went and visited a typical Chinese house, residence.  We went inside and sat with the owner and our guide explained the make up of a typical house and how it is positioned and construction with Feng Shui – square courtyard, windows for sun direction it faces etc

2.      After this we left and all grabbed a rickshaw around the streets of Beijing.  15 bicycle rickshaws racing around the streets was a load of fun.

3.      Lastly we visited a drum tower.  The tower, with its steep steps, rung every ½ hour.  In the spring and summer the drummers beat the drum quickly and in the fall and winter they did so slower.  The drum tower had the same function as a bell tower.  It allowed the town to know what the time was and instead of a bell they used a set of 24 drums.  The officials that needed to attend to the emperor would always take their timing from the drum tower.  If they were late they would be killed.

Back on the bus and off to the markets.  A different set of markets this time where the prime sales were jewellery, electronics etc.  The group had a ball-bartering etc.  The shop keepers on one floor were particularly aggressive holding our arms and trying hard to make a sale.  The students were particularly vulnerable.  Many of the adults and other students had to tell the traders off and physical remove hands off people.Not very pleasant but the tour group loved the shopping and got great bargains again and have become great barterers.

Then off to dinner – typical meal again.  One thing should be noted is that with every dinner we have had something different.  Next was a treat and that was a Kung Fu show.  Once again an awesome show which was packed with action.  The story line was good and the actions performed were great.  Can you do a back flip using your head instead of your hands to rotate on? 

The end of another day whew it is going quick!!!!!!