The day started off with a wide variety of thing to choose from at the breakfast buffet. Everything from cereal and eggs with bacon to fried rice and vegetables, rice pudding, soups and lots of fresh fruit. Most of us chose the Chinese foods since we can get the other stuff at home. Once everyone was done we headed off for a very full day of activities. Our local guide for the day was May. She gave us all “whispers” (headsets) so we would be able to hear her throughout the day.
Our first stop was at a local middle school: Beijing Quanmien Foreign Language School. Most of the students were the same age as the girls. We got to visit their classrooms to meet one of their teachers and learn more about what their typical day is like. They go to school from 7:10am to 4:30pm, with 8 classes and two 45 minute breaks. When we got there the students were in their PE class so we went out to meet some of them. It took a little coaxing but everyone finally started “talking” to each other. By the time we had to leave some international friendships had been established.
After the school we went to Tian’anmen Square. It is the largest square in the world. On one side is the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower and on the other side is the Forbidden City. The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in in the center. We didn’t stay on the square very long because it was already getting really how on the cement tiles and here was no shade to be found. It would have been nice to explore a little more but it felt good to keep moving. We had a group photo taken in front of the Forbidden City, then crossed under the road to enter.
It was unbelievable how BIG the Forbidden City actually is. If all you did was look at it from the front you couldn’t tell. Once we crossed the main bridge and walked it we realized it went on forever. There are many different halls and each one has a higher level of importance. They started really large and got smaller as we moved through the courtyards. Of course, the smaller they got, the more crowded they got because of all the people trying to see them. We only went from the front straight to the back, but there were many more buildings on both sides of all the halls.
From here we got back on the bus and welcomed the air conditioning. It felt so good!! We are used to it getting hot at home but the humidity is what was really bothering us. Amanda took us to a mall for lunch because they had a food court with American and Chinese choices. We spent about an hour there continued on our way.
Our next stop was at a pearl factory. After a brief video and presentation on how cultured pearls are made, we were free to do some shopping. The sales ladies used the adults as models for some very lovely pearl necklaces, but they were a little out of our price ranges to buy them. 
Our last tour of the day was at the Summer Palace. It is located in the northeast part of Beijing. It is the largest and best preserved garden from the Qing Dynasty that still exists. The lake on the property was dug and created to help maintain the feng shui of the property. The lake for the water element and the dirt that was dug out was used to create the mountain behind the palace.
While we were there we had some fun with a Tai Ji lesson. Everyone did okay with the “soft” version but half of us dropped out for the “hard” version. What made it even more interesting was the groups of Chinese people who came to watch us. It made it a little embarrassing at times, but we had a good time.
We walked from the palace down to the end of The Long Corridor. May and Amanda wanted us to see the Cement Boat but it was covered up for refurbishing. It was created by the ruling emperor as a statement that he could not be overturned. Unfortunately it never floated because it was too heavy. After hearing about that we got on a dragon boat for a ride across the lake to the gates.
Our dinner tonight was Peking Duck. They cut it at the tables and served it with pancakes, plum sauce, sprouts, and cucumber. We also had rice, meatballs (not very good), green beans with chicken and watermelon. It was fun to experience a traditional Chinese meal.
We were back to the hotel around 8:30pm. Everyone was very tired, hot and sticky. Amanda had referred to this as our “Heavy March” day and she was right. We did A LOT of walking but it was all a lot of fun.
Through the Eyes of a Girl 
