travel photography > Beijing - stop 4
-
the Forbidden City
This is the first entrance into the Forbidden City. It was so large and there were many guards standing on the walkways as you enter.
-
Mao
A large painting of Mao hangs at the first entrance to the Forbidden City.
-
red
The most used color in China.
-
reflection
There was a mirror on one of the side of the buildings in the courtyard before the main entrance to the Forbidden City. Do you see me amongst the crowd?
-
the Meridian Gate
The main entrance into the Forbidden City (the place you have to pay in order to keep on going).
-
mother and child
Both in red, to match their surroundings.
-
massive
Massive red walls (7.9-metres high) guard the interior of the imperial palace originally built during the mid-Ming dynasty. it is located in the center of Beijing and now serves as a historic building and Palace Museum.
-
-
Golden Water River
Immediately inside the Forbidden City is a large courtyard with buildings surrounding it. In the center is a small river with ornate bridges leading towards the next gate, the Gate of Supreme Harmony.
-
-
-
-
high above
Looking out into the courtyard from a top the Meridian Gate.
-
weeping trees
The Golden River flows into a garden area on the left side of the first courtyard in the Forbidden City.
-
-
golden pattern
Another example of the emperor's excess in the palace.
-
golden lions
Each courtyard contained many large vessels which held water. During the times of the Emperor's they would have elaborate displays and shows with fireworks – occasionally a spark would fall on the wooden structures and a fire would begin.
-
dragon heads
The Palace is decorated with many ornate structures and designs. These relief sculptures represent the dragon.
-
-
-
-
female foo dog
Foo dogs protect the household, or in this case Palace. A male and a female guard the entrance of a doorway. The female typically holds the child underneath her large paw.
-
-
unique foo dog
In the Palace's gardens I came across this unique looking foo dog.
-
-
-
acrobats
Our first real night in Beijing we spent at the Acrobat show. It was quite interesting watching these young kids twist their bodies in unique ways – very impressive.
-
unicycles
These girls pedaled unicycles while tossing plates off their feet and onto their heads.
-
-
balance act
This flexible girl balanced tiers of cups filled with water on both her feet, her hand, and her mouth, AND twisted her body around the stage without spilling a drop.
-
The Great Wall of China
It was our second to last day on our adventure in China. We rented a driver and headed out early in the morning to go and see the largest man made structure, so massive that you can see it from space — The Great Wall of China. As we got closer I could see it snaking its way across the mountain ridges. When I actually stepped onto it I felt a huge rush go throughout my body. I just could not believe I was standing on the Great Wall and I could not believe how impressive it was. It was a gorgeous day, warm and sunny, and the trees were right at their changing color peak.
-
winding
We drove two hours to Mutianyu where we ascended up the mountain to a stretch of the wall that joins the Juyongguan Pass in the west and the Gubeikou Great Wall in the east.
-
-
across the mountain ridge
The Great Wall of China was built and rebuilt during the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the empire of China in the north from the barbarians. It stretchs about 6,500 km from Shanhaiquan in the east to Lop Nur in the west.
-
-
-
mountains
Since we were there in October we were lucky enough to experience the beauty of the fall season.
-
-
-
-
hooray!
While hiking along the Great Wall we came across the filming of a commercial. A bunch of people dressed the same with orange scarfs came running around the corner at a little camera crew. Here's their best shot!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
looking up
The Wall ended at the top of this peak. It was quite a hike up the many many steep steps but worth it because I got to see the wall crumbling.
-
falling apart
This shows a part of the wall which is crumbling - what most of the wall looks like now.
-
-
the amazing view
After an intense workout I made it to the top and was taken back by the beautiful view.
-
-
snaking across
snaking across
-
a hutong alley
On our last day full day after a morning full of shopping we decided to venture into some of the old hutongs the city of Beijing has to offer. Beijing is home to many of these small communities. A hutong is narrow streets created by courtyard communities which were originally built around water wells.
-
-
grafitti
The hutong's create a labyrinth with many roads leading to dead ends.
-
the old and the new
Western culture touches everything.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
gossiping
A large road between two hutongs.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
the bridge at dusk
As the sun began to drop we decided it was time to look for food. We walked toward one of the lakes in Beijing where there were many restaurants and bars.
-