Tiananmen Square

Knowing that I'd probably be up early with jet-lag, Bea and I decided to catch the flag raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square the first morning I was there.

 

We caught the first subway at 5:30 and got across town with enough time to find a good place to stand and watch the sun come up.

 

The square was only somewhat populated when we got there, but by the time dawn came and it was time for the flag raising, it was fairly packed.

Pollution was pretty bad, as you can see from the haze that hugged the crowd and covered the square.

    

A raised flag!

We were pretty cold by the time the ceremony was over - that hot water bottle only lasted so long! So we trooped across the square and found a place to get some breakfast. A place with doors, and they kept them closed, so it was warmer inside, and my toes could thaw.
Lovely.