We were transferred to our hotel – The Rainbow Hotel – but couldn’t get into our rooms! We were given breakfast but no chance of a shower – most of us were still in the clothes we had worn the day before – Yuck!
The bus took us to Tiananmen Square – OMG it was so so so so crowded. They say it can hold 1 million people and I am sure it was close to it!
It was the last day of their autumn festival. The whole of the square was decorated with flowers, floats, giant screens and 56 pillars (to represent the 56 nationalities that make up the Chinese population).
We walked through the square, but it was really unrecognisable to pictures I have seen before. I was a bit disappointed to be honest. We did get a photo taken there which we had to buy along with a book of the area.
From there we entered the Forbidden City – the Royal Families Palace of 9999 rooms. It went on and on and on! We were all so tired and grumpy. I found it all a bit to much!!
After lunch we were finally transferred back to our hotel and had our showers!! Some of our group went in taxi’s to do some shopping, while others went for a walk and some of us just slept!!
Dinner was at our Hotel and then a few of us walked over the road to a small merchant who was selling beer for 5 Yuan a bottle (600ml).
So we took our beer and left over snacks from the train to Ido and Fiona’s room and started a nightly tradition!
It has been very hard to find wine in China so I have been drinking beer with the meals (each meal has come with a glass of beer or soft drink included). The Chinese do not drink cold drinks. Every time we ask for bing pi jiu they are shocked. As it is cooler outside they believe they should drink warm drinks – so they don’t refrigerate soft drinks or beer!
The weather has been very different in each city. Shanghai was hot and humid. Xian was cool and rainy (and very smoggy) and so far Beijing has been overcast and a little cool.
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