We then got to the square, parked up the bikes, and went for
a wander past Mao's Mausoleum. The statues out the front were quite impressive,
much like the Russian Communist style statue. The mausoleum was shut, only open
in the mornings, but who knows, you could just be looking at an empty box, so
we aren't too fussed we didn't get a look in. We then went past the old gates
in the wall around Beijing, which are quite impressive. The wall no longer
exists, but the gates are quite imposing and colourful, and because the tunnels
that are under the massive buildings afford some shade, and also create a wind
tunnel which gives some relief from the oppressive heat, people mill about
resting, sleeping and generally chilling out. We do find it very amusing that
they don't seem to do nappies here, instead they just put a slit in the kids
pants for easy access. Simple potty training.
Also found the zero point for all highway measurements in
China. It's the point from which all
distances are calculated, and is marked as a compass.
We then made our way back to the bikes with the aim of going
to the Underground City, a network of bombproof tunnels Mao insisted on
building in case of a Soviet attack. It contains everything you would need,
including hospitals, food and weapons, but it was never used. You used to be
able to go in and wonder about, but because the tunnels are unstable and collapsing,
that is no longer the case. Thought we'd go and check it out anyway. We took a
few wrong turns, got a little lost, and ended up riding the bikes through a
pedestrianised shopping street. Dodging people, we made our way in the general
direction we thought we needed to go, and got distracted by a Tea shop.
We've booked a tour tomorrow to see the Great Wall, so watch
this space. Apparently, we have been led to believe, it is more than a pile of
stones.
