Once through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, you enter a large courtyard once used as a reviewing stand by the government officials. It now contains a plethora of souvenir, food, and water stands. Our tour guide, Stephen Ding Bin, advised us to skip the food and water stands as they merely refilled the plastic bottles with tap water (like Mexico, you can't drink the tap water in China without some discomfort!) and the change made just might be counterfeit.