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While in Beijing, if you're a visitor, especially if you're a westerner, you're likely to be approached by a team of two Chinese art students who would like for you to come have a look at their art exhibit. Again, a defensive reaction is common, but many are charmed by the students English ability and the defenses relax a bit. I visited a few of these exhibits, and they're all quite nice. The situation seems a bit odd on the surface though.

The art galleries are often tucked away in the backs of other stores so it feels like an under-the-table operation. But when you stop and think about it, this is an example of the cultural revolution that so badly needs to take place in China. And, if they truly are "starving art students" they're not going to be able to afford the rent for a high profile location. Ever since the communists took over China, artisans, free thinkers, and intellectuals have been suppressed into the government and militaristic scheme. My history and facts in the matter really aren't that strong, but I do know this selling art thing is relatively new.

The only thing I remain skeptical about is, where does the art really come from? These students claim to have done the work themselves, and it all looks very nice but it remains a mystery to me. While in Shanghai, we were approached by more art students, and actually got into a conversation about who could buy their art. We told them to stop hunting down grungy backpack folk like us, but to look for the wealthier travelers who were wearing nice shoes, maybe had a nice watch or something like that. I don't think it influenced their strategy.

Back in Beijing, Maria, Everett, and I had a great dinner of what's called "Hot-pot." It's a doughnut shaped copper pot filled with a water and broth mixture which sat on a small burner in the middle of the table. We ordered veggies, meats, and tofu, which came to us raw and we tossed it all into the boiling caldron to cook away. It was a fun experience of dip, cook, and eat.

We wandered around some of the back streets of Beijing and ended up at Tinanmen Square again after dinner where Maria and I bade Everett farewell as he took the subway to the train station to catch his overnight train back to Shenyang as he had to teach the next day, Wednesday.

Maria and I headed back to the hostel. She had an early get up the next morning to catch a bus to the Great Wall, and I was going to wander the city to visit the various in-town sights.

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