你好中国: Beijing Day 1

Sarah and I arrived in Beijing on Thursday, September 24th at 9:00pm. We met Sunny and Laura at the hotel and planned for our first full day. On Friday (September 25th) we woke up at 4am, and were out the door by 5:00 am! Our first stop was Tiananmen Square to see the raising of the flag. Right off the bat we realized we are always being watched in China, definitely alot of guards everywhere. Every morning at dusk the Chinese play their national anthem and raise their flag. Hundreds of people were there waiting with us to see the ceremony. After the raising of the flag we walked around the square and got some breakfast. We then headed to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was the imperial center for 24 emperors throughout the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The city is over 500 (1420-1911) years old and was just recently opened to the public. The city was gorgeous! It was awesome to think about the history and choices that were made within the walls of the Forbidden City. Next, we walked to Beihai Park, which is supposed to be one of the older parks in Beijing. We rented a paddle boat while we were there and enjoyed the park's peaceful atmosphere. Our next stop for the day was Olympic Village, which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. Not only were we able to see the Bird's Nest up close, but we were also able to go inside!! Finally, the girls and I headed to the silk market where hundreds of brand name items are sold for low prices!! Don't worry though, I controlled myself and only bought a few items ; )