Restaurant at night

Peking Opera stars preparing for performance

Lei-lei, our Beijing guide, talked of more recent history…of 3 requirements for marriage:

For her grandmother:  bike, sewing machine, watch
For her mother:  washing machine, refrigerator, TV (only 4 out of 1000 got the opportunity to buy one through a lottery)
For her and her husband:  apartment, car, job

Approching the Forbidden City

Exhibits on Tiananmen Square in preparation for the Olympics.
"One World One Dream"

PRC headquarters

Filled with Chinese tourists

We were told not to ask any sensitive questions while at Tiananmen Square nor to photograph the PLA. (They confiscated a camera owned by someone on Mark's previous tour and he had to buy it back for 20 yuan! Actually a pretty reasonable bribe...)

Site of the 1989 Student Demonstrations

Selling kites

This cute kid had squeaky shoes!

Gate of Heavenly Peace

Entering the Gate of Heavenly Peace at the Forbidden City