Beijing

I had three days in Beijing last week.

Weather was generally overcast or rain. Temperature in the 30s (deg. C), air damp.

I could do three morning runs while I was there.

The first day, I ran to Tiananmen, the main gate to the Forbidden City. Although it was early in the morning, there were many people there. Actually, there really were many people everywhere in Beijing.



Right by the gate was a very nice park - Zhongshan Park, in honor of the man who initiated the revolution and overthrow of the Qing Dynasty - Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the first president of the Republic of China. I visited a park with the same name in Taipei last year.



On the way back to my hotel, I ran through a shopping district. There I saw a famous sporting goods company ad featuring Little Lionel. He is of course one of my football heroes.



Many of the roads in Beijing are very wide with many automobile traffic. Here's one seen from a pedestrian overpass.



The second day, I ran around Ritan Park which was close from my hotel. Many people were there to get their morning exercises.



Here's a view of the pond in the park - peaceful! Here's an HP of someone that took many pictures of this nice park.



The final day in the morning, I took a long run to the Tian Tan Park, the Temple of Heaven. At this beautiful temple, the emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 A.D. - 1911 A.D.) conducted ceremonies to thank Heaven and wish for peace and prosperity in the future.



Here again, many people were exercising. Taichi is very popular. Many people in China look fit.