Larry and Spencer Go to Xinjiang, China

or 10 Days West of Fast Food

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Beijing, July 27-28, 2001:  The capital of China and the site of the 2008 Olympics.  The award of the Olympics to Beijing occured the day before we left for China and the excitement had hardly worn off by the time we got to Beijing.  Even in faraway Kashgar, people said they were planning on attending the Games. 
Our flight was late leaving Dunhuang - in fact, all our internal air flights in China averaged a couple of hours late, so we were not surprised.  This meant that our 2 days worth of touring in Beijing would have to occur on one day.  We wouls get Spencer to the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, the home of Chinese Emperors and Communist leaders, now a big tourist attraction on our last day in China.

 
Meanwhile, we did have a little time to kill the night before - so we were off to Tienamen Square, the heart of Beijing and the scene of many grand and terrible events in China.

Tienamen is always full of people and this night was no exception.  This group of teenagers quickly appeared to get a picture with Spencer and Larry.  We walked the whole length and got a good look at our next day's objective, the Forbidden City which is just across the main boulevard from the square.

Our first visit of the next day would be to the Great Wall, however.

 
Larry and Spencer strike a dramatic pose at the Great Wall.  The last time we visited the Wall in 1997, there were only a few other tourists there.  This time it looked like Disney World during high season.  Mobs of Chinese tourists covered the Wall heading in every direction.  As a grand touch of the New China, a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant was located prominently at the entrance.  Due to the heat and the crowds, we did not linger long nor did we get any chicken.  After a few photos, we were on our way to the Forbidden City.

 
The Forbidden City is an architectural marvel.  It probably comes the closest in China to being what most Americans think of when they think of China.  It has been the home of Chinese Emperors for hundreds of years and the home of Mao Tse-Tung.  Unfortunately, on this day it was the home of untold numbers of tourists.  The next time we visit the Forbidden City, it will be a weekday in January, then we'll have it to ourselves (maybe).
TOURISTS APPEARING AS IF THEY ARE
ALONE AT THE FORBIDDEN CITY
ROOFLINES IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY.  WHEN WE HERE IN 1997, GRASS WAS GROWING ON MANY OF THESE ROOFS.  IT APPEARS THAT MUCH RESTORATION IS GOING ON AT THE CITY.  CHINA HAS ONLY 7 YEARS TO BE READY FOR THE OLYMPICS.