Big day today. On the bus at 7.30am, first early start we have had so far. We start off at the Summer Palace which is a huge man made lake surrounded by gardens and temples. The 2 metre deep lake was dug entirely by hand in 1420 and the subsequent dirt and mud made a hill on which the temple was built. This is as the name suggests the place where the emperors would come to escape the heat of the summer in Beijing as it sits in the mountains. The there is a long passage way that is very ornately decorated, a marble boat and there is also dragon boats that ferry people from one side of the lake to the other. We have free time here to explore for ourselves. It's early and reasonably quiet at the moment. We walked to the marble boat taking the odd photo on the way and on the way back we climbed up the hill to look at the monastery and other buildings. Our meeting time was approaching so we started to head back. By now it's getting busy with large groups of Chinese tourists. For a split second we are separated and before I knew it Glenn had disappeared and there was just this sea of people all around me. I looked and doubled back but no luck. There were so many doors and archways I couldn't even find the lake for awhile and didn't see anyone else from the group. My only option was to try and find my way back to the meeting point and hope that Glenn does the same. By the time I got back I was a little panicked and concerned and everyone thought I was joking about losing him but soon realized I was serious. Finally some others returned and said that they had seen him and he was on his way back because he couldn't find me. Thank God! Back on the bus we are still missing 2 people and Angie had gone to find them and bring them to the bus. Next it's the Temple of Heaven which is a round blue temple built in 1420. It's where the emperor would go to pray to the heavens for the prosperity of China. In Ancient times the Emperor believed that they were the son of heaven. There are 6000 trees in the garden of this temple and it's now a place where the retired/ older people go to exercise. There are people doing Tai Chi, groups playing happy sack and dancing. Others are playing cards or MahJong. The area closes today at 12 because there will be celebrations for the National Holiday tomorrow. Lunch time and it's a Chinese banquet! We haven't had one of those for a few days! After lunch we are off to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. We have already been cleared by security so we don't have to line up with the hundreds, we walk straight through. Still pulling the daggers out of our backs from the Chinese waiting in line! Not sure what I expected in Tiananmen Square but for one thing it was not as crowded as I had imagined and it was very colourful with flowers and grass and red flags everywhere. The square is over 5500sqm and 1,000,000 Chinese people will fit in the square. How do we know this? There are 500,000 stone pavers big enough for 2 Chinese people to stand on. There was also this enormous floral arrangement of peonies, the national flower of China in a big red basket just as decoration for the National day tomorrow. Angie and Vivian bought us all a Chinese flag to celebrate the national day but also I think to stop the vendors from hassling us. We have a group photo in Tiananmen Square and sometime to walk around and take photos. Chairman Mao's mausoleum is not open to the public today. From the square we walk across to the Forbidden City. It's so named because during the last 2 dynasties it's where the Emperor and Empress, his concubines and Eunuchs and servants lived. The common people were not allowed inside the gates. On October 1st 1949 Chairman Mao stood on the gates to the forbidden city and declared China open to the world ending the dynasties. In the 70's the Forbidden City was opened to visitors. From the front gates where we entered we pass through 2 huge forecourt areas, one with a moat and 5 bridges before we come to the buildings used by the Emperor for official business and then further on again we pass through other gates to the courtyards and bedrooms of the Empress and Concubines. The Emperor had only 1 wife at a time but as many concubines as he wanted. They lived at the palace until the Emperor died or if they wanted to leave they could go to visit their families and return. The children of the concubines were still considered as heirs to the throne and took their place in the family hierarchy. Past the bedrooms and courtyards we come to the garden. The place where the Empress and concubines would come to relax and write poetry or do their embroidery. From the square to the back gate we have walked over 5km albeit very slowly. It's been a lot of walking today especially for some of our group and although it started out quite cool it has warmed up this afternoon. We have 1 hour to freshen up and then dinner is right next door to the hotel. Early night tonight as we have a very early morning tomorrow to go to the Great Wall