travel photography

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.

red wall red hat red bag

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.

traditional architecture

grandious scale

tile roofs

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.

the first courtyard

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.

angles and lines

dragon heads 2

a horizon of roofs

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.

side room

unique foo dog

In the Palace's gardens I came across this unique looking foo dog.

detail on ceramic

garden door

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.

lotus dance

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.

watch tower

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.

up and down

castle-esque

mountains

Since we were there in October we were lucky enough to experience the beauty of the fall season.

nestled among the trees

watch tower

immense beauty

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!

through the window

fallen pieces

winding beauty

curve

twisting wall

watch tower

the great wall

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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.

ancient brick

the amazing view

After an intense workout I made it to the top and was taken back by the beautiful view.

looking down

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.

a cluttered alley

grafitti

The hutong's create a labyrinth with many roads leading to dead ends.

the old and the new

Western culture touches everything.

alley cat

communial bathrooms

old cart

hanging to dry

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gossiping

A large road between two hutongs.

eggs

colorful rags

alley cat 2

unit 27

three chairs and a ladder

primary objects

transportation

zig zag alley

brooms

hanging to dry 2

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.

hazy relfection

weeping tree

tea time

Our last night, our last stop. A tiny tea house by the lake. We ordered Jasmine Tea which tasted delicious, especially with a dissolved sugar cube. A great night-time treat.