Day 12 30/09/2104

After breakfast in the courtyard we jumped onto the metro to go to Tiananmen Square however tube stations and square closed due to national holiday starting today.  The holiday lasts for a week with the major attraction being the 65th anniversary of the People's Republic on the 1st October.  There were so many people everywhere waving red Chinese flags and wearing Mao style hats with obligatory red star.  We headed off to the Forbidden City and after some confusion due to diversions we managed to buy tickets and entered.  It was very impressive but so so busy with most people there being very young.  After a few hours sight seeing the numerous temples (and lunch of ice cream and crisps!) we crossed over the road to Jingshan Park where we walked to the top of the hill and from the Buddhist shrine could see right across the vast city of Beijing.  After the hustle and bustle of the Forbidden City the park was lovely and tranquil.  That evening went to dinner at a restaurant recommended by John which is apparently the #1 Peking duck restaurant 'Quan Ju De' situated on the west side of the Beihai Lake. The duck was tasty although a bit fatty by western standards and came with the obligatory cucumber, onion and sauce but the restaurant and everywhere around it very quiet - surprising noting the national holiday is tomorrow.  Plan to go to the Summer Palace tomorrow as the weather looks wet and then the Great Wall on Thursday.  Enjoyed a chilled beer in the courtyard before heading to bed reflecting on how orderly the whole metro experience was but how different this was to the pushing and shoving to get through the security checks to get into the Fobidden City!