Recent Destinations ... Beijing, China (Day 2)

March 2003

 

intersection with bicycles going every which way

On day two, the sun was a little more reluctant to make its morning appearance. People hurry every which way as they head to work.

open courtyard with people walking about and dancing or practising tai ji

We head for the Temple of Heaven. Its park is a popular hang out, for all kinds of activities.

5 old guys around a chess board.

Men intent on a game of Chinese style chess.

Tample of Heaven Park with Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest in background

They chat with friends, practice tai ji, and dance the tango to tinny tape recordings. You can see the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest in the foggy background.

Dude drawing chars on sidewalk with fluffy big brush and water

Caligraphy practice -- that's water, not ink.

Hall of Brayer for good Harvest

Jim, Marti and Brian in front of the Hall of Prayer for good harvest. Note the roof tiles are blue -- to honor the sky.

Temple entrance.
Scary Critters
dutifully guard
just about every
roof corner from
spirit nasties.

Next stop ...
The Forbidden City

 

 

 

Marti and Jim (l to r) hamming in front of the Forbidden City

 

Lion Doorknocker thingy from Gateway to Supreme Harmony

gateway of Supreme Harmony

Back of Barbour's head as he takes a picture of one door while I take a picture of another . . .

 

 

door of Gateway to Supreme Harmony

Brian and Jim pause to check out the number of nails studs in the door -- 9 per row -- an imperial number. Red is for good luck.

 

Bronze embossed dragon from Hall of Supreme Harmony

 

 

Front View with Lions and stairway

Hall of Supreme Harmony. You can't see them very well, but the Lions are a symbol you see again and again throughout China -- on the right, the male with the world under his paw. On the left, the female, controlling her playful cub under her paw.

 

 

Urn with 2 lions holding the handle in their mouths

Urns for storing water, in case of fire. Unfortunately, during the Opium wars, French and British soldiers scraped the gold plating from the Urns. When they discovered that the urns, to heavy to cart away, were not solid gold, they left them alone.

HOSH rooftop with 9 critters standing along the corner spine.

In the Forbidden City rooftops have 9 nasties guarding the rooftop corners -- 9 again being a number reserved for Imperial architecture. The golden rooftops are another imperial symbol.

Interior of the HOSH with throne, cloisonne vases, cranes

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Hallway outside the Emperor's living quarters.

 

The dragon, another imperial symbol reserved for the Emperor's use only, adorns the ceiling of the doorway to the hall of Supreme Harmony.

Andrew, Jim, and our guide, Mr. Wu, leaving the Hall of Supreme Harmony (?). You can see Beihai Park off in the fog.

Tile Mural of the HOSH.

The Summer Palace . . .

water urn, dragon statue in front of Hall of Benevolence and Longevity.

North of the Forbidden City and outside of the city is the Imperial Summer Palace, restored in 1911 by the Emperess Cixi. Pictured here is the entrance to Temple of Benevolence and Longevity.

Lakeside, with Longevity Hill (?) in the distance.

It's home to many lovely views.
Western view along the lakeside.

beams above the long corridor, with brightly painted beams in blues and greens.

The walkway along the lake. Each beam has a unique scene.

paintted beams long ceiling.

Each little pavilion is depicts a season.

Octobonal, conical shaped ceiling with overlapping beams.

Pavilion interior.

Longevity Hill (I think). Here we stopped to sample some of the Dowager Empress and Emperor's favorite tea blends. The Chinese make a mean (or mellow, if you prefer!) cup of tea.

Our guide, Mr. Wu (second from left).