Day by Day, Back in The Bay: Tian An Men Flag Lowering

Last weekend, three days ago, I went with Tammy to go check out the flag lowering. Though it wasn't as glamorous as some of the reviews made it out to be, it was still some what of a surprise to me. Here we are, in negative degree weather, withstanding cold with about 100+ other Chinese people. What I don't understand is, where in America is there such a place or such a symbol that is so important that people from the city even (because I know they were not from out of state) would go out of their way and in the cold to see it being lowered.

When Tammy read up on it, she told me the ceremony consisted of the guards coming out of the Forbidden City and, while playing the Chinese National Anthem, lowered the flag, folded it carefully and marched ceremoniously back across a busy street intersection that is blocked off, and into the Forbidden City again. It's pretty cool, considering it happens EVERYDAY and Beijing traffic is really nothing to mess with. I marveled at this spectacle. As I said, it wasn't that amazing a sight or an experience in itself, but watching so many people come out in the cold and having to designate a time everyday where a busy Beijing roadway was blocked, now that's some national pride, more than I've seen in the states by far. I guess that's also another thing that separates China from the US, and other countries at that. It's the little things that they do, maybe even if its only for 10 minutes that shows how much Chinese people really take pride in their country, maybe sometimes to too great of a degree.

Regardless, I can't wait to see the flag raising, I hear it's pretty glorious. I hope it's not as anti-climactic as the lowering. I've already built it up, let's hope that the actual thing can actually muster what I feel like should be a worthy use of time.

After we saw the flag, taking pictures and a long video, our hands were frozen and Tammy bought me a pair of FAKE, but warm, "North Face" gloves. Haha. It was awesome. We then went to check out Qian Men, an area of China that has recently been reopened for business. The sense I get from the area is very "yuppie-ish" if you can call things yuppie in China. The buildings remind me of the clean cut buildings you would see in Santa Row or something. Very mediterranean looking, with the beige-ish color. Of course it was dark so I didn't really get to see very much, or very clear, but it was definitely different from what it used to be or the surrounding areas. It wasn't as traditional looking as other places in Beijing. Either way, the area was relatively barren, aside from the occasional 5 star + restaurants that are famous in Beijing/China. For example, there was already a Quan Ju De (the famous restaurant that we were served Peking Duck (Beijing Kao Ya) within the first week of arriving). They had a couple more, but the areas that were hopping were the inside streets of Qian Men, the more dirty and more traditional-hutong looking areas. Hutong directly means a narrow street, the exact measurements I forget, but it's very precise.

These hutongs had side streets that parted down alleyways and the back around, housing toy shops, restaurants, souvenir stands, candy stalls, the works. I thought it was quite cozy, though some place that I didn't really want to eat at very much. Though what they served looked good, I've "xiguan-ed" (gotten used to) living cheap in Beijing and the prices were tourist prices. Though they were relatively cheap, I know I could have found cheaper and better in our usual places of dining.

With less than two weeks left now, I'm starting to get more ancy. I can't wait to get back and celebrate Christmas and take a couple weeks off before I start school again. This trip, looking back (again), has been an amazing experience and my Chinese has improved so much. The range of words I now know can cover conversations about the government, discrimination, politics, the economy and much more very useful topics. I actually can't wait to get home and practice with people and see how useful it is, though not in Oakland Chinatown because I know they only speak Cantonese, GOSH.

Like usual, the damn PICTURE UPLOAD won't work because Chinese internet blows. It was even off the entire day yesterday. But, I'll upload pics ASAP.

Tiananmen Square

Guards in Tiananmen

Me freezing, in the (empty) line to see Mao's body (because the exhibit was closed already). The line usually wraps around the Square TWICE. It did last time I was here.