DSC 4149  The Chinese use their public parks for all kinds of activities. DSC 4157  Lanterns on a path between 2 temples. DSC 4159  We could only just see the top of the famous Temple as it is being restored for the 2008 Olympics. The square building in the front is not part of the actual temple. DSC 4160  Gate on a path between 2 temples. DSC 4183  It's a big square alright! DSC 4188  The Guard and Chairman Mao.
DSC 4202  Entering the City. DSC 4204  Impression of the City. DSC 4210  Those Emperors sure saw things big. DSC 4211  in the City. DSC 4213  Me. DSC 4232  In the grounds of the Palace. The Palace itself was not accessible because... yep...it's being restored for the 2008 Olympics. Remind me not to visit places anymore that are gearing up for the Olympics!
DSC 4238  The Long Corridor. DSC 4239  In the grounds surrounding the Palace. DSC 4244  The grounds. DSC 4246  Real barges and marble barge - something about an emperor wanting a permanent unsinkable barge... DSC 4250  The Great Wall of China (at Badalung - spot accessible for visitors and tour groups). DSC 4251  Another tick off my list of 'must-see man-made things'.
DSC 4258  I did get to walk on it for about 1.5 hours. DSC 4277  Despite all the tourists (mostly Chinese) it is a very impressive sight. DSC 4278  I got to walk to 8 of the towers. DSC 4295  Beijing is a rather featureless city. In the foreground some of the few city areas where the 'Hutongs' (old parts of the city) survived the frenzied building of faceless apartment blocks. DSC 4299  The rikshaw is the way to visit the narrow Hutongs. Most of them are too narrow for cars. Hutong sort of means 'narrow street'. DSC 4303  Rikshaws for hire. The remaining Hutongs are being saved partly because the growing interest of tourists.
DSC 4310  The patio of one of the traditional houses in the Hutongs. DSC 4312  Royal garden in park adjacent the Forbidden City.