I had been to Zhonghuamen before but today Lynn and I thought we would take new-comer Pam to have a look as there was a lantern festival in that area. 
We paid our £3.50 and made our way up the steps to the top of the wall. At Zhonghuamen the city wall is at its most magnificent with its soldiers lining the steps and cannons on the ramparts.
The wall was lined with colourful exhibits, some with rabbits (for year of rabbit) and other with things like windmills and other less obvious items. Some of the structures seem to show Olympic sports in readiness for the YOG (Youth Olympic Games) in 2014.
For the first time we were able to go past the iron gate and onto the previously closed section of the wall. Soon we came across a stall renting bikes and we rented one each for £2 for an hour. It took the man on the stall quite a while to lift the seats and handle bars up for us so we could actually ride them. In any case, by the time we brought the bikes back, my seat had slipped down so I was almost on the ground! In the sun we started off along the wall, stopping occasionally to look over the wall to see the old 
shanty town types of community which are being flattened in the cause of progress and rebuilding the new China.
From the top of the wall we could see as far as the city centre and into the Confucius temple. It being a Wednesday afternoon there were few people on the wall and we cycled on in the bright sun, our coats in our bicycle baskets.
Why that section of the wall is usually restricted I’m not sure because it is magnificent, great for walking and cycling, in good repair and has great views. Please leave it open permanently, it’s a great afternoon out.
Later as I passed back thro
ugh the wall towards the city the place was lit up like Blackpool illuminations and people were milling around enjoying the warm evening. At Zhonghuamen bus stop you will see many migrant workers getting on and off the buses with huge bags, sacks and boxes as it is close to the old Nanjing South Railway Station where they need to catch a train home. I wonder what they think as they look up to the huge wall with all its soldiers and lights and tourists. What will they tell their families as they get home to their houses? The magnificence of the Zhonghuamen during the lantern festival and the bright lights of downtown Nanjing must be hard for those toiling in the rice fields to imagine.