Getting back to Beijing
Our summer of fun had to end, as it always does, and we have now returned to Beijing. I have various bits of summer I hope to blog about, if only because we did some tourism in the US while we were home. I know I like googling places I want to go and learning from others' experiences.
We knew that Beijing would be a little crazy, more than normal, for the last part of August. Back in May, the government announced a new public holiday for September 3. I've heard various names in English for this day, from Anti-Facist Day to Victory Day, but basically it is an observance of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in China. At the time of the announcement, I only wondered about what we might eat for such a holiday. Little did I know what else this holiday might mean, other than a day off for Randy from work.
There's going to be a parade, apparently. A big one. A big meaty military parade. And these affairs require perfect weather and air quality, something that the city hopes is helped with heavy restrictions on automobile use throughout the entire city. For a few weeks leading up to September 3, all cars in Beijing, including those out here in rural districts and counties, are under odd-even restrictions. This means odd-numbered plates can be on the road on odd-numbered days, and similarly for even numbered plates. Additionally, some neighborhoods down in Beijing proper were completely shut down for part of the weekend to car and pedestrian traffic.
I wondered if we would even have any sign of this new holiday at all in our neighborhood, other than the driving prohibitions. We do have the increased visibility of security volunteers, mostly retirees in new blue t-shirts with red arm-bands who sit and gossip in the shade where they can find it. But I really thought we would go through all these inconveniences and not get anything out of the holiday for ourselves.
I may have been wrong. The fall holiday floral displays are going up a little early this year (follow the hyperlinks for examples of previous years', including 2009 which was the last time we had a big military parade). This one is nearly finished.
It says, "抗战胜利," meaning Victory.
We knew that Beijing would be a little crazy, more than normal, for the last part of August. Back in May, the government announced a new public holiday for September 3. I've heard various names in English for this day, from Anti-Facist Day to Victory Day, but basically it is an observance of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in China. At the time of the announcement, I only wondered about what we might eat for such a holiday. Little did I know what else this holiday might mean, other than a day off for Randy from work.
There's going to be a parade, apparently. A big one. A big meaty military parade. And these affairs require perfect weather and air quality, something that the city hopes is helped with heavy restrictions on automobile use throughout the entire city. For a few weeks leading up to September 3, all cars in Beijing, including those out here in rural districts and counties, are under odd-even restrictions. This means odd-numbered plates can be on the road on odd-numbered days, and similarly for even numbered plates. Additionally, some neighborhoods down in Beijing proper were completely shut down for part of the weekend to car and pedestrian traffic.
I wondered if we would even have any sign of this new holiday at all in our neighborhood, other than the driving prohibitions. We do have the increased visibility of security volunteers, mostly retirees in new blue t-shirts with red arm-bands who sit and gossip in the shade where they can find it. But I really thought we would go through all these inconveniences and not get anything out of the holiday for ourselves.
I may have been wrong. The fall holiday floral displays are going up a little early this year (follow the hyperlinks for examples of previous years', including 2009 which was the last time we had a big military parade). This one is nearly finished.
It says, "抗战胜利," meaning Victory.
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