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Tiananmen Square and Tiananmen Gate: The center of modern Chinese history.

A bit stange after seeing the videos of the masacre here in 1989. Ironic that Tiananmen means "Heavanly Peace" in Mandarin Chinese.

You will notice the Picture of Chairmen Mao Zedong on Tiananmen Gate. On Tiananmen Gate on 10/01/1949 Mao proclamed " The Chinese people have stood up!" and modern China was born.
Tiananmen Gate and Chinese folks trying to sell crap to the white guys. In this area (and by area I mean China!) us white guys stick out like a hooker at a church picnic! (More about hookers here!)
Tiananmen Gate. Look for Chinese folks getting there picture with Chairman Mao.
Directly Across Tiananmen Gate. This is Tiananmen Square. The obelisk is the monument to the People's Heros. The large building the back is Chairmen Mao's Mausoleum. You can go in and actaully see Chairmen Mao's body. It is in a crystal coffin that is lowered into a subterranean freezer everynight. We didn't have time to catch the show.
Every good communist takes a pilgramage to Beijing to have there picture taken with the portrait of Chairman Mao. You will notice the people dressed up for the photo. I understand this is a very significant event in the Chinese's life.
Tiananmen Square, the Monument to the People's Heros and Mao's Mausoleum.

Casey getting his picture with Mao, like all good communist. Just a note, I think Mao was probably ranks up there with Stalin and Hitler. His leftist politics led to the debacle know as the "Great Leap Forward". 30 - 40 million Chinese died during the famine that insued.


Mike with Chairman Mao.
Tiananmen Square
Picture from under Tiananmen, looking at Wumen (Meridian Gate to the Forbidden City)
Picture from under Tiananmen, looking at the entrance to the Forbidden City
Picture from under Tiananmen, looking at the entrance to the Forbidden City
Wumen (Meridian Gate to the Forbidden City)
Chinese Soldiers doing something while shouting Chinese.
Look at how skinny they are!
One more with Chairman Mao.
Tiananmen Gate and Mao's portrait.
Kiting in Tiananmen Square. Very popular there. Probably 20 people flying kites. I was going to bring my kite, but it would not fit in my bag. I won't make that mistake if I go back.
Kiting in Tiananmen Square
Mike taking a picture of the Great Hall of People. (Chinese Congress, kind of)
the Great Hall of People. (Chinese Congress, I don' think there is a real congress in a communist country.)
The obelisk is the monument to the People's Heros. The large building the back is Chairmen Mao's Mausoleum. You can go in and actaully see Chairmen Mao's body. It is in a crystal coffin that is lowered into a subterranean freezer everynight. We didn't have time to catch the show.
Casey and a sweet kite photo. Check out the lady attacking me to sell me a paper kite. Very good quality, cheeper for you! In Tiananmen Square,
And they all think white folks are rich! I could only handle the hawking (t8:00 PM 12/8/2003hat's what it's called in Chinglish) for 30 minutes.
Chairmen Mao's Mausoleum and some soldier status.
Chairmen Mao's Mausoleum and some soldier status.
Chairmen Mao's Mausoleum and some soldier status.
Casey by The Monument to the Peoples Heros and the Great Hall of People
Cool Chinese Communist Stuff!
Cool Chinese Communist Stuff!
Cool Chinese Communist Stuff!
Cool Chinese Communist Stuff!
Cool Chinese Communist Stuff!
Cool Chinese Communist Stuff!
Cool Chinese Communist Stuff!


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