Hast Mine Eyes Deceive Me?

The Forbidden City was once the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has beautiful ancient Chinese architecture throughout but I suppose in an effort to jazz up this historic venue, Starbucks decided to open a store smack dab in the center of the square; I was appalled to say the least when I saw it. Yet surprisingly, Starbucks can't even detract from the stunning imperial palace.

Located directly across from the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square, a large plaza that has been the sight of political activisim over the years. Perhaps the most infamous event that took place here were the protests of 1989. University students attempted to confront the then harsh and rigid Chinese government, demanding more open relations. The most infamous picture to come from that event was that of the "Unknown Rebel" who stood defiantly in front of a line of tanks trying to enter the protest area.