Some great things about Beijing

Tienamen Square
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1)  The people, everyone was so friendly.  People stopped us in the street to chat, welcome us to Beijing or ask if they could have their photo taken with us! But I think the attitude was summed up best when one evening we were trying to find a taxi back to our hotel late at night.  It was a relatively short journey and none of the drivers in the rank wanted to take us.  A random person who was walking past stopped and tried to persuade someone to take us.  When he had no luck he walked out into the street flagged down a cab, put us in the back, got in the front himself and directed the driver to our hotel.  He then refused any money, insisted on paying himself and the disappeared into the night with a big smile happy to have been able to help!

The outside of the Forbidden City
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2)  Cycling, we rented bikes one day and had a fab time riding around the city.  I used to think that Amsterdam was the most cycle friendly city about, but no, it's defiantly Beijing.  The sperate cycle lanes that ran throughout the city were three lanes wide in places!  It made cycling very easy and great fun, especially riding back during rush hour with thousands of other cyclists.

3)  The Great Wall, well it might have been had we actually made it out to have a look.  In the end we were too busy having fun in Beijing to go.  Still we'll be able to have a look the next time we're in space!

and the inside of the Forbiden City
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4)  The Forbidden City, well this one was Clare's favorite, I bailed after an hour and went back and lay down in air-conditioning in our hotel room.  I'm sure she;ll write something about it.