Beijing: Day 2 - Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Lamma Temple

Day Two of our Beijing trip started at Tiananmen Square...it was HUGE - and that was the theme of the weekend. Everything in Beijing is big, big big...
Erin in front of the tomb of Mao Tse Tung...a massive building built in just a few months...
And people were lined up around the block, waiting for hours to walk past his body, lying in state.
And the lines kept going...the heat was unbearable, but it didn't stop the crowds!
Looking back at Mao's Mausoleum...and the giant obselisk with his signature handwriting etched on it.
Across the street from Mao was the front gate of the Forbidden City - here are Curtis, the Bakers and Curtis' friend Michael soaking up the heat...with Mao looking over our shoulder.
A soldier in the Square...
The Forbidden City is HUGE, with numerous gates that you have to pass through...
A little princess looks back at Finn! He's a real head-turner!
Michael and our tour guide Leo outside of the main Forbidden City gate waiting for tickets. In case you were wondering, Leo is not, in fact, Canadian.
Inside the City, there are dozens of giant gates to pass, and one huge courtyard after another.
The crowds were out in force this Saturday in well over 100 degree heat!
Giant bowls were positioned around the city - they were used as water storage in case any of the buildings caught on fire...today, people rub them for good luck.
Giant golden lions guard another gate...
Beautiful stone carvings between stairs - this is the world's largest!
In the heat, Finn and Daddy pause for a few minutes to collect themselves...
And suddenly people wanted to take pictures with us! It was crazy - dozens of people gathered around taking pictures like the Papparazzi!
It went on for quite a while, people were getting in line to take pictures of us!
Near the end of the Forbidden City walk was the garden...Emperors used to play hide and seek there!
A beautiful koi pond...
Finn gets mobbed again by onlookers...
A giant lion guards the back door of the Forbidden City...and about 1 and half hours after entering it, we got to the other side.
Our next stop was the Summer Palace...an amazing man-made lake where the Navy would train, and Empresses would relax by the water.
The world's longest breezeway goes along the water, with elaborate paintings and woodwork decorating it.
At the end of the breezeway was a cool gate overlooking the water.
We headed to lunch in the restaurant district, decorated by good-luck red lanterns.
Next we headed to the Lamma Temple, and Finn strikes a pose with Mom and Curtis...
Finn takes a seat after a long day of walking!
Finn and Mommy near the end of our day of touring, outside one of the beautiful Buddhist temple gates...

"Guys, it's really hot, so let's just set a spell!"
The gang relaxing...
Andy went out for some drinks and Jazz with Curtis and Michael, and we visited one of the local nightspots, situated around a pond in the city...
A classic Chinese scene - playing the strings outside a Tea House.
On our way home at the airport on Sunday morning, with Finn's new buddy Leo!
"Beijing, I won't miss your heat, but it sure was fun exploring! Now, let's get on an avion..."
It was a wonderful weekend in China's capitol city!
Hope you enjoyed the trip, too.
Love,
A&E