This magnificent stone sculpture in Beijing China's Forbidden City was transported to the city during winter when an "ice road" was created by pouring water on the ground in front of the sculpture as it was moved to Beijing.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Native Hawaiians Take Over Historic Palace
CNN reports that a group of Hawaiian natives have taken over the historic palace, formerly representing the ruling powers of the Islands.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Lion Guarding Forbidden City
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Chinese Yuan
History, Travel, and Money converge in China whenever you pull out your wallet. China is a very robust cash based economy where people will often carry around huge sums rather than use credit cards or bank instruments.
Don't count on telling the different denominations by the person on the bill - Mao, still held in great esteem throughout the country, is on every single bill. Travel spots and pretty landscapes adorn the opposite sides.
Don't count on telling the different denominations by the person on the bill - Mao, still held in great esteem throughout the country, is on every single bill. Travel spots and pretty landscapes adorn the opposite sides.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Forbidden City Nightfall, Beijing
Mao looms large over the Forbidden City in Beijing. He also makes a strong appearance on every denomination of Yuan bills. The people's feelings about Mao seemed more sentimental and gentle to me than fearful or worshipful, though I didn't have a chance to ask many people about this.
The Forbidden City is closed at night but this scene was a very popular place to "hang out" and after dark this part of the street, opposite Tiananmen Square, was alive with strolling visitors to the heart of Biejing.
The Forbidden City is closed at night but this scene was a very popular place to "hang out" and after dark this part of the street, opposite Tiananmen Square, was alive with strolling visitors to the heart of Biejing.
Forbidden City Guard, China
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.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Temple of Heaven, Beijing
Beijing's Temple of Heaven is where many dynasties would go to pray, making their way a few miles from the Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing.
Several spectacular buildings and a burial mound are surrounded by park filled with trees and cement pavers, out of which sprouts plants and grass.
The park is still a lively gathering place for locals to come to play cards, talk, and pray.
Several spectacular buildings and a burial mound are surrounded by park filled with trees and cement pavers, out of which sprouts plants and grass.
The park is still a lively gathering place for locals to come to play cards, talk, and pray.
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