07.08.2010 08:46

Quiet morning in Beijing

David Saura (special correspondent)

The players and technical staff spent a relaxed morning in Beijing, taking advantage of the cancelled training session to do some sightseeing and take part in a promotional activity with team sponsor Audi.

Guardiola and the rest of his staff were picked up at 9.30 from their hotel for a visit to the Forbidden City in Beijing, whilst most of the younger players went shopping in the city.

Forbidden City

The impressive palaces of the Forbidden City were full of tourists and Guardiola was able to take in the palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties as just another visitor, before posing for the traditional photo outside the complex in front of the obligatory photo of Mao Tse Tung. The heat in the city was considerable and the staff put an end to their long walk in the capital with a stroll around the famous Tiananmen Square.

Players take it easy

Dani Alves and Alexander Hleb had to deal with a series of bureaucratic problems as they will have to leave China on different flights to the rest of the squad in order to meet up with their national teams. Since the whole squad came into China together, the two players have had to apply for separate exit visas – a process that took up most of the morning. The rest of the first team squad stayed in the hotel, whilst the Barca B players went out to do some shopping in the city.

Audi marketing

All the players got together before lunch for a promotional activity with club sponsors Audi, which involved them posing with the latest range of Q7 cars in front of the hotel.