Tiananmen Square (天安们) Part 1 -- CROWDED

As being any tourist in China, I want to see all the famous historical sites of China and Tiananmen Square was at the top of the list. I took the subway to Line 1 Tiananmen East (because it was the closer of the 2 Tiananmen stops) and you definitely get a REAL sense of how populated China really is.

Line 1 is absolutely horrendous in itself, there are people EVERYWHERE. I was warned about the pushing and shoving on the platform and decided I'd just hang back and if I could squeeze into the subway, I would-- if I couldn't, I'd just catch the next one. The next train was arriving and once the doors opened, the massive amount of people pushing completely threw me off and somehow I was pushed onto the train! Pushed up against people -- this was the dreaded Line 1.

Tiananmen Square itself is very grand and I felt like a fanfare should have been playing once I saw it. There are tons of Chinese tours and foreign tour groups it was very.. chaotic. You can enter up to the 故宫 (via the large tunnels) for free but past that requires an admission fee.

I also ventured across the street (using the subway tunnels and following the exit signs) to the Museum and National Flag but did not enter the museum because I was pressed for time.

Tiananmen Square

Ornamental Columns made from white marble. They are complements of Tiananmen square's main structures.