Beijing, China. Wednesday March 17 2010.

So far, Beijing has been amazing. It is very well laid out, the subway is super clean, cheap and efficient, and the people are polite - despite the constant spitting.
We arrived at Tianjin airport on Friday, and with our new friends Joe and Bec from England and Andrew from Perth, negotiated public transport - shuttle bus, bullet train, and subway - to our hostel, about 15 minutes walk from Tianamen Square. In almost minus temperature, everyone stared at Phillip in his shorts and things; one old lady yelled at him. The hostel, also a hotel, has come to represent every business we've come across - clean, hygenic, staff on hand at every corner, grand old buildings and furnishings and every facility the traveller could need - massage, a barber open 'til midnight, restaurant, bar, cafe, tour desk, souvenir shop, bike rental...and it seems pretty empty! The toilets could be better...not knowing if it will flush or not doesn't make the most relaxing atmosphere for a poo. we will be here 12 mights total, so it's very homey, and $7.50 a night each for a dorm bed!
Our first day (Saturday) we had a very deserved sleep in, then walked to Tianament Square. Apparently it only opened at 12pm, and the gates were rushed! There was much pushing and shoving in order to get across the road, and then a bottleneck to get through the security check - a bag scan and a quick pat down - and finally into the square, where security, police and 'professional' photographers nearly outnumbered the tourists. The square itself is vast, empty and patriotic - flags everywhere, Uncle Mao looking over the whole thing from the north - the entrance to the Forbidden City.
After the obligatory photos, we headed to Wangfujing Street, a shopper's paradise. Three massive, upscale Western style malls and food courts and so many shoppers and still more construction. We found Phillip some thermals and got our photo taken by a passerby - not so subtle with the flash on. Then we ran - to keep warm - to Alien's Street Market, which should be called Little Russia. Apparently they pop over for the cheap clothes and tailors. We bargained in the markets for gloves (two pairs for $12), beanies (two for $12), and cutlery sets for the train, and purple thermals for me!
We walked and subwayed back to the hostel - so easy to get around - and went to dinner at our new favourite restaurant run by brothers who look like Newman from Seinfeld. We had a massive feed, beers and shots with the locals for about $8.
Sunday we awoke to snow! very rare for March apparently. It was lovely walking through all the hutongs (alleyways that service the courtyard houses), with about an inch of snow settled on everything. We walked to another disappointing shopping centre in search of more warm clothes, then subwayed to the main rail station, battled crowds and were directed to another hotel for info about train into Mongolia. We went there, it was closed. But we took advantage of the lovely lobby and bathroom for a bit of melting off and warming up. It must not have been a very memorable night...writing now (Wednesday), I can't remember what happened...