"China Nationalism Tour Day"

"China Nationalism Tour Day" is what I have coined the activities of July 20, 2008. We got to see two symbolic Chinese entities: the Tiananmen Square flag raising and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall.

After staying up until 2 a.m. sharing and dabbling in new music, a group of us woke up at 3:30 a.m. and scaled a gate (only one entrance to campus remains open in the wee hours, and we were in a hurry). We found a taxi nearby with the driver sleeping in the back seat, and took a U.S. $5.60 ride straight to Tiananmen Square to watch the national flag raising ceremony at dawn. The streets were dark and empty, except for groups of people heading toward the square. Thousands of people come to watch every morning, and many of us heard/read that it is an event everyone should take the time to witness while staying in Beijing. 

The sun rose around 4:30. Guards marched out of the Forbidden City and crossed the street into the square; China's flag was raised as the national anthem played. I did not take this video, but here is an abridged version of the ceremony I found on YouTube:

After 22 years of living in America, it was interesting to watch a ceremony that evokes pride and nationalism of another country. The large murmuring crowd of thousands was a bit distracting and made it difficult to see or hear what was happening, but I'm honored I got to observe an event some Chinese people reportedly wait their whole lives to see.

The ceremony finished sometime around 5 a.m. On the other side of the square, the memorial hall, which is a mausoleum that holds Mao Zedong's body, opens at 8, so we walked the streets of Beijing for a couple hours in search of breakfast to kill time. Visitors to Mao's have to check everything but their cash and I.D.s at a building across the street before walking through security similar to an airport. Thousands of people file through the hall when it's open, some buying flowers for Mao and placing them in piles before a large white statue similar to the Lincoln Memorial (not nearly that big, though). Keeping pace with the theme of my trip so far, I "did like the Romans" and purchased a $3 RMB flower to pay respect. Jane, our professor, said I looked like I was in church when I placed it in front of the statue. It was very much like a wake viewing. After the opening statue room, you're directed past a huge glass case with a crystal coffin inside of it containing the embalmed body. The guards keep you moving at a rapid pace. Mao died in the 70s, so the body was a little peculiar looking, but you aren't allowed to stop and take an adequate gander. It was an interesting experience.