Tian'anmen Square at night

My wife with a portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, first president of the Republic of China, in the background. (Oct. 3, 2006)

This is me with the Beijing Olympics mascots in the background. (Oct. 3, 2006)

With no specific plans for the National Day holiday, my wife and I made a foray to the Tian'anmen Square at night on Oct. 3, the third day of China's weeklong holiday.

I hadn't expected there would be so many people thronging and roaming around the Square and the place was a virtual huge night market. For what didn't those people stay away from a throng at night? For fun. But what they actually experienced might be of frustration just like my wife and I did --- there are too many people to make walks there enjoyable.

Thronging people at the Tian'anmen Square on the night (Oct. 3, 2006).

A small replica of the giant Three Gorges Dam at the Tian'anmen Square (Oct. 3, 2006).