Today I got up early with the desire to see the Great Wall of China.  I did my research so I knew exactly how to get there.  Should be easy right?  Well it would have been except I didn't expect the train to Badaling (which is where the section of the great wall I wanted to visit is located) was sold out for the day.  So now what?  Well luckily I had already figured out how to get to all the other places I wanted to see so I just chose a different destination and I was off.  One thing I have learned about traveling in China is that because there are so many people here you have to reserve EVERYTHING in advance.  The earlier the better.  (Which is why I already bought all my train tickets for the next week.)  Anyways, I ended up seeing Tian'anmen Square today and the outer courtyards of the Forbidden City (I will go back another time to see the inner areas of the Forbidden City.)  Tian'anmen Square is the resting place of a famous Chinese Politician (I think it is the Mao).  The flag in the picture is the national flag and tons of Chinese people come to Tian'anmen Square in the morning to see it being raised.



There are other national buildings surrounding the square and Tianan Gate (Heavenly Gate) is to the North.  Pictured below is Tianan Gate which is one of the outer gates of the Forbidden City.



The next picture is from the Wudaokou Subway Station which is the exit to get to my hotel.  To get to my hotel you must walk a block down this street then turn left and walk another block.  The hotel is on the right-hand side down a small side street.



The weather here in Beijing is much nicer than Shanghai.  It is still hot here, but not nearly as humid.  It just feels like a hot summer day here (which it is).  I think I will go see the inner areas of the Forbidden City tomorrow and on Thursday I am off to see the Great Wall of China in Badaling (about 1 hour North of Beijing).