Peking Duck, Beijing

Peking Duck, Beijing
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Peking was a Western description of Beijing. For most cities in China it is almost required form to use the Chinese naming system which is quite interesting as it often uses combination words that have a word for a compass direction and physical features like rivers and mountains:

http://www.washburn.edu/cas/history/stucker/ChGeogMeaning.html

Peking duck is the signature specialty of Beijing. The duck is carved carefully, some fat removed, then reassembled for serving. For a small extra charge the remaining parts are deep fried - bone and all - and served as a separate dish.

Lion Guarding Forbidden City

Lion Guarding Forbidden City 384
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

In the heart of old Beijing are the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Home to many dynasties over many centuries, the Forbidden City was one of the world's most refined and sophisticated cities, housing the Chinese Emperor, thousands of his consorts, and untold numbers of support staff.

Fanciful animals guard several buildings in the city. My favorite was the mother lion who was pinning her tiny armored cub beneath her left paw - I think representing an analogy to the heir to the Dynastic throne.

Forbidden City Guard, China

IMG_1243
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

An armored Lioness plays with her cub and guards one of the buildings in the Forbidden City, Beijing's amazing historic palace grounds opposite Tiananmen Square. Many Dynasties lived, loved and died inside the massive walls of the city in the heart of Beijing. The last emperor lived here until he was deposed by the nationalists under Sun Yat Sen, the father of modern China. Fanciful bronze creatures like this lion with her mate on the opposite side of the stairway were common inside the palace grounds.