Beijing - the Forbidden City et al

Think it's only appropriate, when talking about Beijing's Forbidden City, to talk about the city's police presence too.

• As I mentioned previously, the blog was locked while in China which put a serious dent in keeping up with my writing/posting.  I know, I know - I  just needed that as a ready excuse, you think!
• All police officers we saw were male; the only females we saw in law enforcement were at the security checkpoints in the metro in very minor roles.  Those male officers in apparent authority were very young to us.  That's not just my saying that from my ripe age either!  They appeared to be no more than early 20's, and, though in uniform, wore pretty long hair, many in a punk style.  Sure didn't see anything like that in the Motherland.
• One thing that was odd to us was that there were virtually no sirens to be heard at all.  That was very welcome because there was an almost overwhelming cacophony of sound emanating from the constant honking of cars, buses, trams let alone thousands and thousands of bike bells going off all around you at all times.
• Speaking of bikes, Beijing has very wide bike lanes b/c biking everywhere is such a major way of getting around in the capital.  There were several traffic wardens (so called on their uniforms!) at each major intersection to help control the flow of pedestrian traffic - complete with walkie talkies too.  We never found it dangerous walking in the city but you sure had to have your wits about you b/c of the sheer volume of traffic of all types coming at you from all directions.  No jaywalking possible even if it were legal!
• There obviously was a pronounced presence in Beijing but "not in your face" really unless you visit the Forbidden City/ Tianenmen Square area where they were everywhere, it seemed.  Noticed a number of times that local men were asked for ID's there but nowhere else we saw.  No benches or anywhere at all to sit down in T. Square - so as to prevent another mass gathering of people, possibly?
• First time in Beijing we saw masses of people was in this area. The square is the largest city square in the world and is also know as the Gate of Heavenly Peace (obviously not so much at times!); first built in 1420, it was the entrance to the Imperial City.

  

  Entered Forbidden City at Meridian Gate, formerly only used for the emperor.  Called the Forbidden City b/c it was off limits for over 500 years.  Once inside, the area can hold up to 100,000 people.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

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  Tianenmen Square - mostly devoid of people when we were there.  In front of Monument to the People's Heroes, built in 1952 and at center of the square and is largest monument in China's history.  "The People's Heroes are Immortal" written by Mao are engraved on the monument.
  

  
  

  

   Also at T. Sq.

  

  Sign in the metro!  The metro cards, btw, unlike Moscow's were totally recyclable; they were hard like a driver's license and in order to exit a station, you had to put the card in the turnstile.  The card stated "Please do not mutilate or destroy this card."

  
  

  

  Writing using water only.