Last November, I was in Beijing. From the outset of my trip to China, I wanted to visit Mao Zedong's mausoleum and Tiananmen Square, not out of fanaticism or anything like that, and also because Mao would have wanted his ashes scattered rather than being embalmed, but simply to feel the weight of all the history I had read about in books. Because that's also what it means to be and become a sinologist. I waited four hours in line at the Tiananmen security checks in strong winds (the next day I was supposed to go to the Great Wall and I was already prepared to give up). The temperature was unpleasant and the checks were very slow. I was afraid that my ticket to the mausoleum would expire, and it did, although at least I saw the Forbidden City. I extended my stay just to go inside and see people's faces. I got to see other areas of Beijing in the meantime, which was really good for me. Even though I really felt the oppression of the security checks at Tiananmen, and I am very tolerant and respectful of the rules of every place.
I waited another three hours at Tiananmen, thank goodness it was less cold, or maybe I was hardened by the -8 degrees of the Great Wall of China. They were selling flowers at the entrance, there were further controls, then you went inside and saw Mao, lying down, with a serene look on his face, the red flag hiding half of his torso, his hair perfectly in order. I couldn't help but imagine him swimming in the Yangtze.
At the exit, there were stalls selling numerous trinkets and Mao memorabilia. I thought that this is somewhat representative of China today, and I went to eat a vegan sandwich in a huge labyrinthine building a few minutes from Tiananmen Square.
yousharknotpass
2087
vaporwave
theartofmadeline
