Goodbye Harbin, hello Beijing!!! After a week of being snow sculptors in Harbin our thoughts have turned to being tourists in Beijing.
We’ve been told that the population here is around 22 million people. It is a tad bit bigger than Saskatoon and Winnipeg.
Our first day here was subdued as we were getting our bearings around the hotel. After doing a little shopping for water and snacks we had a quiet night in relaxing.
Day two (Monday) was a long one. We started the morning at Tiananmen Square. Apparently it is the largest city square in the world and holds about 1 million people. It is also has two of the largest TV screens we’ve seen … anywhere. From here we crossed under the street to the Forbidden Palace. This place was HUGE. Each time we turned around we came upon another photo opportunity.
Picture this, you are in one of the largest cities in the world in one of the busiest tourist attractions. Who would you expect to run into? If you guessed Team USA, the guys you have been sharing meals with while in Harbin snow carving, you guessed right. We couldn’t believe it when after looking into one building we turned around and there was Kelley, Gerry, Pat and Matt from Team Big Snow out of Minnesota.
Commercialism is live and well in China as on our walk today we encounter many street hustlers selling items from flags and toques to books and puzzles. Also, everywhere we drive we see roadside vendors selling food, beverages and other items.
Our next tourist attraction is the Great Wall … we will add more photos later.
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