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.

Frommer on Historical Travel destinations

In the following video, Pauline Frommer offers her top five destinations for history travelers:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/05/08/road.warriors.bernholtz.cnn

Hill of Accumulated Elegance, Beijing

Hill of Accumulated Elegance, Beijing
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The Hill of Accumulated Elegance is in the Gardens of the Forbidden City in Beijing China. Carefully built from pieces of weathered stone, this area is surrounded by very pretty gardens and a serenity that was enjoyed in the past only by the royal family and I think also some of the 3000 concubines who lived in this walled city, the largest Palace grounds on earth.

Stone Sculpture, Forbidden City

Stone Sculpture, Forbidden City
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

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.

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.

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.

Chinese Yuan

Hmmm, I wonder who we should put on the $200 bills? 810
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

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.