We like to make things difficult, I guess. We started with The Forbidden City the day before (it’s in the middle) Then the next day, went down to Tienanmen Square (it comes first) and then back up to Jingshan Park (last in the line). Not very efficient but I think we saved the best for last (maybe that’s why it’s at the end of the three attractions).
Out of Tienanmen Square, The Forbidden City and Jingshan Park, I preferred the park. It was so peaceful yet for of bustling life, great for taking photographs. It will cost you 2RMB (that’s about 30cents AUD) to gain entry into the park and you can easily spend your afternoon strolling through or sit and people watch. The park is a decent size, spread out over 230,000 m² and has a giant man made hill in the middle.
You will see sections of people practicing dance, music and reciting poetry. It’s fascinating to watch – The only thing is there are about 5-10 different groups clumped in one area doing the same thing. For example in one small corner you may have up to 5 groups of tenors performing different arias all at once… being deaf, I couldn’t hear what was going on. But my friend assured me that neither could she – all the songs mixed into one as the small groups competed to be heard over each other.
Tienanmen Square is impressive. It’s one of the biggest ‘meeting places’ in the world. Again – Take your own guide book (brought from outside China) the ‘history’ of Tienanmen Square that is represented on plaques and through guides here is very different to what actually happen.
Take an umbrella too – it gets hot – VERY HOT and when you’re in the middle of the square there is limited shade.
