Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City, Saturday 3/25/17

Last night we crashed out really early because we were so exhausted. So of course I woke up thinking it was time to get ready and when I looked at the clock, realized it was only midnight here in Beijing! Fortunately I was able to go back to sleep. We started our day at 6am. We got showers and ate at the breakfast buffet. It was very good. They have a nice variation of Chinese and American food to choose from. After breakfast we had time in our rooms. One condition we gave the boys when we told them they could come with us is that they both have to keep a daily journal of everything we do, how they feel about it and what role God is playing in it. After breakfast, we had enough time for all of us to do our journaling before meeting the tour guide at 9:00.

Candy, our Beijing tour guide, was wonderful. Casey quickly made her his newest BFF. She took us to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and to an Acrobat show. Everything we saw was beautiful and we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather.

Tiananmen Square is in front of the government buildings. It is large enough to hold 1 million people! Candy gave us all of the history and pointed out the various government buildings that surround the square.

The Forbidden City was really neat to see. We spent most of our time focusing on the three major buildings and walking around the Emperial Gardens.

After leaving the Forbidden City, we took our lives into our hands by riding in a motorcar (as seen on Amazing Race). If you read yesterday's post, you know that traffic laws/rules seem to mean nothing hear. Thankfully, we managed to make it to our lunch destination unscathed. We had lunch and then toured the Hutong Alleys which gave us a sense of what true China culture looks like.

After touring, we went to see an Acrobat show. I survived using the "squatty potty". :) The show was really good. Afterwards we had another authentic Chinese meal. Casey and I weren't to thrilled with it but Kevin and Nathan seemed to enjoy it.

Tomorrow we will check out of our Beijing hotel, go see the infamous Great Wall and then take the bullet train to Wuhan.

                                                   Casey and his newest BFF!

     
                                                               The "squatty potty"