Emery felt beat today so he skipped out on Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden Palace (he had already seen it anyway). We shared some of the goodies we bought yesterday from Bread Talk in Wang Fu Jing like the cheese bun, green tea/red bean bread, and fire floss (that's spicy dried stringy pork) bun. Then I went downstairs to meet the group in the lobby at 8:30.

We followed the crowds of people the hotel to Tian'anmen Square, stopping at a street vendor to grab egg onion pancakes for breakfast. It wasn't even peak season but the square was swarming with Asian tourists in red baseball caps. Saw chubby little Chinese children flying kites and picking fights and also more old hags peddling Chairman Mao watches. Jenny gave us another brief overview of the history of Tian'anmen Square and the surrounding buildings. Afterwards, four of the tour group members rushed off to see the Mausoleum the tour guide, me, and one other member watched their stuff. We took pictures, cracked jokes, and speculated over why Chinese women here didn't wear skirts (maybe simply because it was really cold) and why old men love rice wine and other hard liquor.

When the others came back to meet up with us, we walked to the Forbidden Palace where Jenny transferred us over to a local guide for the day. The local guide explained every aspect of the palace. I learned that the Last Emperor was filmed there (haven't seen it yet, even though I know I should have) and that the there are several halls in the palace for different purposes. The Hall of Supreme Harmony/Tai He Dian is for large ceremonies such as New Year's, Emperor weddings, and celebrations for military victories. The Hall of Central Harmony/Zhong He Dian is for the Emperor to rehearse. There are also five bridges inside the palace to signify each virtue: benevolence, rites, righteousness, fidelity and intelligence. In addition to halls and towers, this palace also has an imperial garden and many bronze mythical and lucky animals guarding some outer gates.

My legs were killing me by the time we were done looking at everything. Jenny came to my rescue and called one of those motor rickshaw cabs since the taxis around the Forbidden City are more expensive. When I arrived at my hotel, I had make the driver wait while I exchanged a 100Y at a shop because he didn't have change, or rather, he wouldn't make change.

Emery and I decided to opt out on the group dinner that night and walk around Wang Fu Jing again. We entered through a all-in-one music/electronics/game store called FAB. Found a lot of cheap foreign DVDs (a lot of them in region 6), Asian pop CDs, box sets of TV series, and translated video games. There was even a book section.

There's also a supermarket inside of the mall called Ole that specializes in imported products, kind of like World Market and Fresh Market combined because they sell breads, produce, and sushi too. Lots of familiar brands with similiar packaging as the ones that sell in the US but with Chinese characters, like Olay, Pantene, Chips Ahoy, etc. It's possible to buy the original products catered to the US market but at 2 or 3 times the price. I also find it funny that those products are wrapped around in an extra plastic baggie.

<--- span="" style="font-size: 85%;">Chinese people seem to have a greater appreciation for books than Americans but their publishing industry isn't as sophisticated yet.
We got out of that mall quickly though because the air was so hot and stuffy. It felt like we had our heads stuck in a dusty PC. The longer we spent inside the mall, the harder it became to breathe. It felt like there was no ventilation. Emery found out later today that Beijing is the 9th most polluted city in the world. That the stinky stuff that we were inhaling was petroleum particles and more of it gets blown in from the southern winds. If enough of it is breathed in for a long period of time, it can eventually lead to some severe throat or lung issues. No wonder the people in Beijing always hack and spit into the streets.

I adlibbed part of a ditty from Lion King to encompass how I feel about this part of Beijing...

In the jungle,
the China jungle,
the city stinks tonight.

We went into Wang Fu Jing Bookstore--probably the biggest bookstore in the area--but we didn't stay for too long. Picked up a few pinyin books and skedaddled out of there because we were starting to choke again and break out in cold sweat.

I went hunting around Meishi Street for a supermarket that sold those hospital face masks. But of course it was futile, Emery already asked Jenny if any place in the area had it in stock and the answer was negative. I ended up just bringing back some hand moisturizer and wet wipes because ever since I came to Beijing, my fingers have been rough and flaky. I guess I don't realize what humidity does for me until it's not there.

你们卖口罩吗？！
DO YOU GUYS SELL FACE MASKS?!

*edit
Jenny bought us face masks the next day. She is an awesome tour guide!

Shared Expenses
Nestea bottled drink 4Y
small souvenir trinket 20Y
ride home 20Y
Azabu Jyuban Sabo lunch 61Y
Ole Supermarket goods 62Y
Wang Fu Jing (5 books) 55Y
local supermarket around the corner 44Y

total = 266Y approx. $44US