November 15, 2005

A bench by Tiananmen Square
posted by Abiezer_Coppe 19 years ago
  • Ah, the Chinese. A great bunch of lads.
  • Judging by the colour of the wall, that would be right in front of Tiananmen itself, right? Tiananmen Square is an interesting place, especially if you've only seen it in the context of protests and military parades on TV. Most striking is the size: it's absolutely enormous. But it's also a public square: on the day I went there, it was full of people enjoying themselves, flying kites or just sitting around. (Self-linking alert)
  • At first I thought these were all pictures of the same bench, and I was slightly puzzled by the R2D2 character who kept sidling into the picture.
  • Now, this is a bench as a bench should be, no armrests or unfriendly dividers to keep the weary from lying down or her lad from snuggling close beside her. When feet are tired folk can slip off their shoes sit with a friend, have a quiet schmooze.
  • that would be right in front of Tiananmen itself, right? I think it's across the street, in front of the wall of the Forbidden City. You know, by the main gate under Mao's picture?
  • Good pick, Plegmund. I was under the same impression until I read your comment and went back for a second look.
  • Oh, yeah. The manhole covers are another clue. The first time I went to the square, the bigwigs were using it as a parking lot for their Benzes and Jeeps while they communed in the Great Hall of the People. Policemen lined the square, to keep the Other People from approaching the Great Cars.
  • I think it's across the street, in front of the wall of the Forbidden City. You know, by the main gate under Mao's picture? That's exactly what I meant. That is Tiananmen (天安门), after which the square is named. Men means gate.
  • Bonus points to Wolof for the Father Ted, and to Pleggers for the spot that it's not the same bench - I'd missed that, too busy looking at the cavalcade of humanity. I don't think you can read too much into the red wall for an exact location - it's all painted like that down that neck of the woods. I hardly ever go through the Square these days despite living not 2 km from it, though I've been visiting the offices of a client just north in the People's Palace of Culture a few times lately. Says it all about modern China that the People's Palace is now a business centre.
  • I like that they all took their shoes off if they were going to put their feet up.
  • Minda, I noticed the shoes too. Do people not take thier shoes off in public as much in the US or do I just miss it when they do?