Beijing

Beautiful architechture in the Beijing Airport

Overall, we had really good weather while we were in Beijing (low 50s to high 40s in the day) but the last day the smog was really bad. The traffic was crazier than LA traffic on the 405! There were only 4 marked lanes for traffic but at least 6 rows of cars.

 

Look at how many people are on that bus...and this wasn't even during rush hour.

Chairman Mao's Mausoleum

Security everywhere

Monument to the People's Heroes

Tiananmen Square

Great Hall of the People

Entrance to the Forbidden City

Entering the south gate of the Forbidden City

Hall of Supreme Harmony

The more animal figures on the roof, the more important the building. The Hall of Supreme Harmony has 9 animals, the highest in the Forbidden City.

This 4 star rated toilet in the Forbidden City was not at all glamorous...no toilet paper, only one western toilet and the smell was pretty bad. 

Jasper Eighteen Arhats, Qing dynasty (1736-1795)

Green Jade from the Qing Dynasty (1736-1795)

Magnolia Tree in the Forbidden City

 

Exiting the north gate at the Forbidden City

Beijing Zoo

Breakfast time!

This wall of pottery bricks were made for the 2008 for the Olympic Games. The bricks were carved drawings from children of Beijing and Sichuan Province. 

We spent 30 minutes just watching the babies play. It was so much fun!

When they got tired of wrestling, they decided to play King of the Hill. 

I tried to lift it up but it was too heavy. Too bad, I wanted to take a baby panda home...

I guess I will just let Jason carry it home!

We had lunch in the Summer Palace where the waitresses were dressed as concubines.

Summer Palace

The marble boat in the background was built in 1755.

Some of the elaborate artwork along the walkway

Wood-clad Magneto Wall Telephone, earth 20th century

Hall of Happiness and Longevity

Typically, two dragons guard the entrance of a building. When you face away from the building, the one on the left is male and the one on the right is female...
because the female is always right!

 

I fit right in with the other Asian tour group!

Beijing National Stadium

Water Cube

Bird's Nest

Dragon Building


Jade Museum

Great Wall of China (Changling)

The start of our hour long hike up the wall...

We made it to the top! Now we start the downward adventure.

Going up was definitely harder than the way back down. 

Ming Tombs

Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs


The Dragon and Phoenix Gate

Yonghe Gong (Lama Temple)

This Buddha is carved from one sandle wood tree trunk. Amazing!

Temple of Heaven

Wangfujing Street

Donghuamen Night Market

This night market is at the end of Wangfujing Street.

We had a lot of fun looking at all the crazy options like snake, seahorse, silk worms, scorpions. 

I was super adventerous and tried the pan fried pork dumplings.
The girl next to me was obviously fascinated with my choice.

Jason tried the starfish, scorpion, and chicken hearts.

Kung Fu Show at the Red Dragon Theater