The square is BIG. It seems to be a meeting place/tourist focus/Security forces obsession. It's also the place where some pretty unhappy events took place not too long ago, though the world seems to have forgotten and moved on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989
The streets leading to it are wide and have that communist era scale. Mao looks down on all of it from his memorial, which you pass through to get to the Forbidden city. The Square is enclosed by the People's Hall, National Museum, and Mao
I have to profess ignorance as to who this guy is, but he certainly enjoys a pride of place.
When you leave the square, and pass underneath Mao, you go through a gate, and everyone rubs the knobs for good luck. Being 6ft4 I was able to reach way up and rub the knobs for tall people. Lots of pointing and laughter.
The Forbidden city seems to go on and on. Built over 500 years ago (some parts earlier, some later), it is quite a trek but well worth it.
You get the idea.
The only place you can get a cup of coffee in the forbidden city is here........ Starbucks . Its power is ominpotent.
Lots of pics and not alot of text. I'll add my thoughts of China in general in my next post.
Hope all is well.
T
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