| |
BEIJING -
CHINA
|
|
 |
Link to the section on
the Great Wall and Ming tombs
|
|
|
Link to the section on
the Forbidden city - palace
|
|
|
Link to the section on
the Summer palace
|
|
|
Link to the section on
the Temple of Heaven
|
|
|
Link to the section on
the Chinese military museum
|
|
|
Link to the section on
the Chinese Aviation Museum
|
|
|
Waiting in the airport
|
|
|
Ruth at the Beijing airport
|
|
|
Ruth and John at the airport
|
|
|
Main lobby of the hotel in Beijing
|
|
|
Wall and staircase in the lobby of hotel in
Beijing
|
|
|
Downtown Beijing
|
|
|
Government building in downtown Beijing
|
|
|
Government building on main street downtown
Beijing.
|
|
|
Government building in downtown
Beijing
|
|
|
Government building in downtown Beijing
|
|
|
Our hotel in downtown Beijing
|
|
|
Our hotel in downtown Beijing
|
|
|
Part of our tour group gathered for lunch on
first day at fine local restaurant - the first of the huge, multi-course
luncheons.
|
|
|
The entrance doorway to our first restaurant
in Beijing. It is but a few steps from the main square and Forbidden city.
|
|
|
The front facade of our first luncheon
restaurant in Beijing.
|
|
|
The south gate of the medieval city by
telephoto picture - it is directly south of the Forbidden city as prescribed by
geomancy theory.
|
|
|
Very sharp looking Chinese military standing
guard - one of many around the square.
|
|
|
The Mao Mausoleum - memorial hall that
contains the preserved remains of Chairman Mao.
|
|
|
Oblisk in Tinnamen square
|
|
|
Memorial column in the middle of the square.
|
|
|
The Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmem) gate
to the Forbidden City seen from across the Tian an men square. This is actually
not the entrance to the Forbidden City itself but an outer gate - A large park
lies between this gate and the actual Imperial Palace complex.
|
|
|
The Gate of Heavenly Peace in front of the
Forbidden city seen from close to it. For more views of the Forbidden City
please use the link above.
|
|
|
The park and pagoda "coal hill"
north of the Imperial Palace - the mound was formed from earth excavated from
the palace moat.
|
|
|
View of pagoda
|
|
|
Telephoto close up of pagoda
|
|
|
Modern tall buildings downtown Beijing
|
|
|
A cluster of modern tall buildings.
|
|
|
This divided street lined with modern
appartment buildings
|
|
|
More modern high-rise apartments - note
construction crane. View from taxi window
|
|
|
One of the huge new stadiums for the Olympic
games now under construction
|
|
|
Older section of Beijing from taxi window
|
|
|
Older section of Beijing from taxi window
|
|
|
Three modern buildings seen through heavy
smog and haze.
|
|
|
Modern office buildings near downtown Beijing
|
|
|
The Vantage tour group attends a special
demonstration of pearls and clams at the fine Pearl Factory in Beijing
|
|
|
" See, this is a clam and now I will
open it to reveal its precious content."
|
|
|
The clam's contents revealed for all to see
and photograph
|
|
|
There it is a pearl of great value hidden in
a lowly clam - note the many world globes made of mother of pearl
|
|
|
Television and observation tower seen from
bus in Beijing
|
|
|
Ruth and bycicle rickshaw driver preparing to
visit typical hutong section of Beijing
|
|
|
Preparing for a new experience - a ride
through the narrow streets of Beining hutong section
|
|
|
There they go - a cavalcade of rickshaws with
2 passengers each winding through the hutong
|
|
|
The cavalcade of rickshaws passing through
the old hutong area enroute to lunch.
|
|
|
This gives some idea of the logistics of this
rickshaw operation and the area through which we pass.
|
|
|
We are about to leave a narrow alley and turn
into the main street of this hutong - lined with tourist attraction shops.
|
|
|
The back alleys are drab and grey, but the
tourist area is bright with traditional Chinese designs.
|
|
|
We are rushing down the street, no time to
stop and shop here.
|
|
|
As we are wisked past by our reliable
rickshaw driver we note several tourists are about to explore this interesting
shop.
|
|
|
Another tourist attraction store - with face
of rickshaw driver
|
|
|
An eager young entrepreneur trying
successfully to sell colorful items to tourists. She was very persistent in
following the rickshaws on her bicycle.
|
|
|
Our travelers bought one of the colorful
cloths from the persistent young lady.
|
|
|
Another pair of happy travelers after the big
luncheon - another rickshaw ride.
|
|
|
Rapidly passing another store - at least we
managed to see some of the traditional architecture decorations.
|
|
|
So close but no time to explore - passing an
interesting building in the hutong area.
|
|
|
We are approaching the family home where we
will have an excellent lunch - note the building is relatively new - two
stories.
|
|
|
The rickshaw drivers are gathering to await
our return from lunch - the group is scattered into various local homes - we
went up the stairs to left into friendly family home.
|
|
|
Ruth at the luncheon table
|
|
|
The hostesses posing with two of the ladies.
|
|
|
Ruth posing with our rickshaw driver.
|
|
|
Our second stop in the hutong visit -
courtyard of a private residence - the narrow alleyways have walls with no
windows but just a door - inside the door is an enclosed courtyard to a fairly
substantial home.
|
|
|
Our host declaiming eagerly as the hostest
prepares tea.
|
|
|
The host is preparing to show the group his
photo album
|
|
|
The host has his wedding certificate and poto
from the wedding.
|
|
|
The happy couple apparently much enjoy the
visits of American tourists arranged by Vantage travel. The tea and cookies
were excellent also.
|
|
|
Passing a gate tower remaining from the
medieval city wall.
|
|
|
Seen from the bus window - another building -
note the dove and wreath.
|
|
|
Monumental statue of someone who appears to
be a medieval hero? - unidentified.
|
|
|
More modern apartment buildings next to a
busy elevated highway - shared by tricycle and taxi cabs.
|
|
|
Two tall buildings seen from passing bus.
|
|
|
Downtown Beijing from bus window
|
|
|
Another street of modern high rise offices
|
|
|
A clear day for a change -driving along one
of the many elevated super highways through downtown Beijing - modern buildings
on both sides.
|
|
|
The variety of architecture is remarkable
considering so many buildings are being built simultaneously.
|
|
|
Driving along a wide superhighway past
stunning new buildings.
|
|
|
Quite a few telecomunications means on top of
this building.
|
|
|
The cast of the spectacular Beijing Opera
takes a curtain call
|
|
|
An ensemble singing - whatever they are
saying it is lovely.
|
|
|
A solo performance at Beijing opera
|
|
|
The costumes are spectacular - Beijing opera
perfomance.
|
|
|
The ensemble going round and round at Beijing
opera
|
|
|
This fellow is looking rather stern about
something - Beijing opera
|
|
|
Don't know what the 'war' is about - maybe
for the hand of the princess?
|
|
|
Don't know what the 'war' is about - maybe
for the hand of the princess?
|
|
|
We are back on the streets admiring the new
architecture - tall apartment buildings - not lack of central airconditioning
but multiple window air conditioners - would be nice to have that business.
|
|
|
Another interesting apartment building seen
from the bus
|
|
|
Perhaps this high-rise is air conditioned -
at least no window air conditioners are in evidence
|
|
|
A quiet garden around a temple in downtown
Beijing - view from bus through window
|
|
|
Passing the lamasary in northeast Beijing on
way to airport.
|
|
|
The remaining tower of the medieval city wall
on northeast corner of the old city.
|
|
|
A close-up view of the medieval city tower as
we pass on bus.
|
|
|
Very impressive fortress tower on the
medieval Beijing city wall at northeast corner.
|
|
|
The intersection of broad street level and
elevated highways - part of Beijing system of 6 ring roads and several
expressways through the city center.
|
|
|
More modern, tall buildings on edge of
Beijing - note elevated highway.
|
|
|
We are passing the Beijing International
Science and Technology Convention Center in northeast Beijing
|
|
|
A combination of the old style and modern
here in Beijing
|
|
|
A combination of the old style and modern
here in Beijing
|
|
|
View through bus window of the expressway
from Beijing to the airport
|
|
|
Construction of modern tall buildings is
expanding into the Beijing suburbs.
|
|
|
Unfortunately the reflections in the bus
window spoil the view - but the buildings and express way are still impressive
|
|
|
Monument to unknown medieval leader
|
|
|
Here we are well into the outer northeast
suburb but the new buildings continue on and on.
|
|
|
We are on the overpass of an elaborate
intersection with an express way below us and access ramps ahead.
|
|
|
The highway toll booth complexes in China
conform to traditional architectural style.
|
|
|
After passing through and paying toll a look
back at the elaborate architcture.
|
|
|
The very modern Beijing airport - we depart
for Xi'an with much more of Beijing left for the next visit.
|
|
