Day 7 : Last Day

 Tiananmem Square and The Forbidden City and were loated just 450mtrs from the hotel and was quite a sight to see.Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the center of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its North, separating it from the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is the third largest city square in the world (440,000 m² – 880×500 m or 109 acres – 960×550 yd). It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history.

Outside China, the square is best known in recent memory as the focal point of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, a pro-democracy movement which ended on 4 June 1989 with the declaration of martial law in Beijing by the government and the death of several hundred or possibly thousands of civilians.^[1][2]

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the centre of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home ofemperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.

Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 720,000 m² (7,800,000 sq ft).^[1] The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture,^[2] and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere.

Wandering through such a historical building and seeing the square which has such reference on society, is quite moving.  With history lesson over…I decided to take a train and shop some more. However i got off too early, got thoroughly lost and  walked for miles in the wrong direction. Nobody could assist me with directions..so I had to do a quick google map to determine my location ..which will probably cost me a fortune..but worth it as I was nowhere near where I had planned to go…so I could walk for miles back again in the right direction and get back on the train..Went the one stop I needed and shopped. Again.. As we were leaving for Melbourne that night, we packed and then headed out for a quick dinner and drink at Capital M.

What a treat. It took seven years for Melbourne-born restaurateur Michelle Garnaut (owner and founder of M on the Fringe in Hong Kong and Shanghai’s M on the Bund) to make Capital M a reality. The results appear to have been well worth the effort. The terrace affords one of the most impressive views in the city, while the ornate dining room, with its signature parquet flooring and elegant lighting, is a suitably opulent setting for European culinary indulgence…….

What a  Perfect way to end this unforgettable trip to China.

….Sx