Daily Ceremony to Raise the National Flag
The phone rang at 5AM; the car would arrive at the hotel in 30 minutes to take us to the tour bus for the first event of the day – the Raising of the Nation Flag at sunrise about 6:15am. The color guard is 20 – 30 soldiers who march across the street from the Tian’anmen Gate Tower to the flag pole Tian’anmen Square, raise the flag, and march back. There are several hundred Chinese every day who watch the flag go up the flag pole at sunrise then again to be lowered at sunset. In the morning, the China National Anthem music is played. In the evening when the flag is lowered, no music is played.
The Great Wall of China
The next event was the Great Wall. The Great Wall must be experienced when you visit Beijing. As the Chinese saying goes, “Not a plucky hero until one reaches the Great Wall.”
The Great Wall extends five thousand kilometers from east to west in North China across deserts, grasslands, and mountains. It took more the two thousand years to complete the Great Wall beginning in seventh century BC until 1644 AD. The Wall hugs the contours of the terrain as it climbs up and down the mountains. It keeps changing in height, weight and building material. At the Great Wall near Beijing the steps were very steep and varied in height. The area we visited was much commercialized with many booths and tables along the way selling souvenirs, books, and photos. This is probably the best first place experience the wall. There are other places to walk the walk without any vendors are barkers. On the bus tours, be prepared to be sold to and keep your resistance high.
The Great Wall extends five thousand kilometers from east to west in North China across deserts, grasslands, and mountains. It took more the two thousand years to complete the Great Wall beginning in seventh century BC until 1644 AD. The Wall hugs the contours of the terrain as it climbs up and down the mountains. It keeps changing in height, weight and building material. At the Great Wall near Beijing the steps were very steep and varied in height. The area we visited was much commercialized with many booths and tables along the way selling souvenirs, books, and photos. This is probably the best first place experience the wall. There are other places to walk the walk without any vendors are barkers. On the bus tours, be prepared to be sold to and keep your resistance high.
I bought 2 souvenirs books – one for the Great Wall and on for Beijing. We looked that books on the way up and told the seller we would check back again on the way down. The books were selling for 100 Yuan each (about $15). I really did not want to but the book but is would be a good souvenir. On the way up we offer 20 Yuan but the seller wanted at least 25 Yuan (less than $1 difference). One the way down the same seller remembered us – how could she forget the only American on the Wall that day. We offered 20 Yuan but she said no. Then we offered 40 Yuan for two, she said no so we walked off. She followed us and sold us two books for 40 Yuan (less than $7). The Seller was not happy but my tour guide was a tough negotiator.
According to the Beijing tour book, Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China, is a world-famous historic city as well as a culturally famous city. This millennium-old ancient city has numerous scenic spots, historical sites, and places of cultural interest, of every dynasty. There is so much in Beijing that I did not see.
In the Wax Museum, we dressed up like King and Queen or Emperor and Emperor’s Wife to have pictures taken.
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