Tiananmen Square

After the morning home schooling session, we set off to find the ExploraScience Centre, so we could check out dinosaur bones and other fun things. On the way to the subway station, we stopped at the "ping pong park" to do some exercises on the equipment. After a 10-minute exercise break, we headed off again. The information we had found said the science centre was at the Oriental Plaza, so that's where we went. However, far from being a science museum, it was a high-end shopping mall! We asked at the mall information booth and they had no idea what we were talking about!

We went out on the street and a passerby, who must have seen our bewildered faces, asked if she could help us. She too had no idea where this crazy science centre was, and she even "called a friend", but the best she could do was to direct us to the Museum of Natural History. By this point, we had realized how close we were to Tiananmen Square, so we decided to go there instead and go to the science centre another day, after we figure out exactly where it is!


Let me start by saying that Tiananmen Square is HUGE! The square is surrounded by China's government buildings and the National Museum. On one side was a sculpted garden depicting the Olympic mascots, and on the opposite side was another sculpted garden. We had a liesurely walk around the square and were stopped 10 times (the kids were counting!) by people who wanted their picture taken with Yasmin and Roya. We were teasing them, saying this is probably how Hanna Montana feels when she goes out! Yasmin was particulrly enamoured with being famous!

On the way home, the subway was busy, and we took some pictures of the crowds, so you can get a feel of what it's like. This shot is taken at 2:30 on Friday afternoon. I can hardly imagine what rush hour must look like.

NM + CM