Tiananmen or How to Get Spoted in a Crowd!

After Noam's long afternoon nap, we headed out to discover the touristic venues of Beijing. We have been twice in Hou Hai Lake, many times to the supermarkets in the Russian area, but have no important touristic site under our belt. 

What should we see first?  Tiananmen of course!! 

Tiananmen Square is certainly the most popular touristic spot in China, before or after the Great Wall, I am not sure. We all have seen a journalist speak in front of Mao's picture. The large pagoda behind is the Gate of the Heavenly Peace, separating the square from the Forbiden City, or the Emperor's Palace. The place is also well remembered for the protests which took place in 1989.

De tiennamen square

So Noam and I set off for this destination by subway. The journey in itself was memorable, but it will discussed it in another post. 

As we emerged at the East end of this huge square, I realize again that Beijing's scale is L A R G E. Me and Noam are setting foot in the largest open urban space in the world, with its 100 acres! 

And such large amount of space in China is not left empty: it is filled with tourists from all over the world, but mostly from all over the country. Tourists who maybe have never seen a white baby with blue eyes and blond hair!

De tiennamen square

With this in mind, you can imagine ourselves strolling along, trying to take a picture here and there. Every time I stop the stroller, someone dashes over to tickle Noam or touch his hand. If we keep going, people stare, elbow a friend, point at us, smile, wave at us, come closer, yell "hello hello" in a high pitch voice, and even wave a Chinese flag in Noam's face. As we are crossing the plaza, I feels like we are some people on a red carpet. Are we that famous yet? 

At some point, in fact not that much longer after we started our stroll of fame, Noam looks overwhelmed. It is too much attention, too much intensity. Mind you, every body is friendly, smiley and curious. But I don't want to make Noam stressed and afraid by this situation. So we simply retrieve! We abide! So much for Tiananmen, so much for our touristic intentions... Next time I will set out with my favorite body guard: Pauli.

De tiennamen square