Beijing is a place I first visited in 1981. A lot has changed in 17 years, yet a few remain unchanged. The great wall still stands, with cable cars and colorful but distracting flags. Palace is still there, with more limited access and much higher(100 times) admission fees. Chairman Mao still looks over Tiananman Square.
Rules on acceptable behaviour at "Monument to the People's Heroes" at the Tiananman Square are displayed on new concrete plaques, in Chinese and English, in case the unruly foreign devils try to pull a stunt. History tells us it all started at this particular monument.
Commercialism is everywhere. At Tiananman Square, military guard stands on top of an air-conditioned platform, courtesy of the company "NKT". At the palace, American Express Foundation is everywhere.
With free market economy, no more "Foreign Exchange Certificate" - special money for foreigners that could be used to buy imported goods. Store clerks no long scold you for not accepting what you are offered.
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| Forbidden City | Air-conditioned | You better hehave | Growl!! |
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| Chairman watches | Imperial Stone Boat | Great Wall |
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