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Post by librarylady on May 4, 2024 19:55:02 GMT
Red Square or Tianamen Square?
I have visited both. It was a bit emotional to visit Red Square and places in Russia. I grew up in the peak of the cold war years and never dreamed I could visit Russia.
China was always so foreign (and closed) that I had no thoughts about it. An opportunity popped up to visit China and have an exchange with Chinese librarians (I was still working then) so I jumped at it. I needed to return home for the beginning of school so I missed the chance to see the Terracotta warriors/soldiers. I regret not taking the days to see them as I will never be in China again. I did get to walk on the Great Wall, which was a remarkable experience.
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Post by KiwiJo on May 4, 2024 21:12:17 GMT
I haven’t been to China, so haven’t visited Tianamen Square, but we spent 3 weeks in Russia towards the end of 2019. I hate the thought of the current war that Russia is causing, not only for what it’s doing to Ukraine but also what it must be doing to the ordinary Russian people.
We found that they were so friendly, eager to show off the highlights of their own country and to learn about other places. One example of their friendliness - I use a lightweight foldable mobility scooter and I was waiting with it at the top of the steps down to a Metro station, while DH went off to see if there was an elevator. Many people, some women but mostly men, offered to carry it (and me!) down the steps. It was remarkable, we couldn’t speak each others’ languages but they made it obvious that they wanted to help.
Red Square was fantastic - the beautiful St Basils Cathedral at one end, the walls of the Moscow Kremlin along the side with the trees etc. Iconic buildings the other 2 sides…. I remember standing in the middle and trying to imagine what it must be like during one of the big military parades they hold there.
Oh, and incidentally, when I said I haven’t been to Tianamen Square, I meant in real life. I regularly spend quite a bit of time with streetview in Google Maps, visiting famous places. There is no official streetview for Tianamen Square but many people have uploaded 360 degree photos and videos, which show up in streetview as blue clickable circles. Not nearly as good as being there, but better than nothing. Lots of famous places worldwide have streetview available inside the buildings, so I’ve walked through the Whitehouse and the Taj Mahal, explored the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City, and been backstage at Carnegie Hall - even though I’ve never been to those countries.
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Post by mom on May 4, 2024 21:31:23 GMT
Yes, I have been to the Red Square. I lived in Russia as an exchange student with an Ag program. I was there in the mid 90's.
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Post by melanell on May 4, 2024 22:13:21 GMT
No, I've never been to either. I'm sorry you missed seeing the terracotta warriors. I'd love to see those as well.
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Post by Basket1lady on May 4, 2024 23:13:25 GMT
We went to Beijing in 2003 and went to Tianamen Square. I found it very eerie, as there are cameras EVERYWHERE. It was quite deserted, as it was February, cold, and windy. But still a thrill to be there. We also visited The Great Wall at Badaling.
That was interesting—we were there late in the day and dad had to use the bathroom. DH was worried that we would miss the last team down and told her to hold it. Yeah, that didn’t work for our 3 year old! There were vendors selling all sorts of touristy junk at the bottom and policy said that the tour guides needed to encourage us to only spend money at the Friendship Stores (officially sanctioned stores for tourists.) I had her go to the car and wait for us so that I could go buy DD some dry clothes for the hour ride back to Beijing. I was MOBBED when I went back alone, but got the job done. We did some of the markets on our own and we’re fine, but that experience at The Wall was something!
Neither DH or I have been to the USSR or Russia. Because of DH’s status as a member of the military, it was forbidden by both countries.
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,765 
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Post by mich5481 on May 4, 2024 23:20:20 GMT
I've been to both. I went to the Red Square my senior year of high school and I went to Tiananmen Square in 2013.
I did see the Terra cotta warriors as well - it was my one big thing I wanted to see in China.
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Post by mellyw on May 5, 2024 0:06:34 GMT
Yes, I’ve been to Tianamen Square. I lived in Japan for 5.5 years and traveled as much as I could. I was lucky my DH was military and we had access to military hops (free ride on military aircraft if space allowed). We visited so many places that way! Though the China visit is the only one where we went with a tour group, only way we were allowed with DH’s security clearance at that time
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Post by librarylady on May 5, 2024 0:39:37 GMT
When we visited Tianamen Square, we were cautioned to be aware that "ears are everywhere" so be very careful what you say at all times.
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