This was probably the best shot I took of the hutong alleyways that my hotel was surrounded by. As you can see, a certain amount of charm, a certain amount of dirt.
A little architectural detail on the road to the Forbidden City.
The first big gate you see as you enter Tiananmen Square from the south. Note scale. In pretty much all of my Beijing photos, I recommend you note the ridiculous scale.
Mao's Mausoleum
Why I decided not to try to get into Mao's Mausoleum.
The expanse of Tiananmen Square, with the Great Hall of the People in the background.
Tiananmen, with the front of the Forbidden City. I did not do a good job of capturing on camera how big Tiananmen Square is, but it's really, really, really big. It makes Union Square look like my backyard.
Great Hall of The People
Entrance to the Forbidden City. The Chinese, btw, says, I believe, "May the People's Republic of China last for ten thousand years. May the peoples of the world unite (possibly the Internationale) for ten thousand years.
An old lion, dating back to the Ming period. For some reason, I didn't take a picture of the very famous Yuan era winged column.
Bridge crossing the moat into the Forbidden City
Inside the first courtyard of the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is actually a series of huge courtyards and giant reception halls, intended to impress upon you the power of the emperor. It certainly is impressive.
I would have tossed this, but I really wanted to show you the silly method Chinese tour groups use to keep track of everyone. This particular groups uses very silly pink hats.
Courtyard before the Noon Gate.
First Imperial receiving hall, bridge over a moat, throngs of Chinese tourists. Only looking back on these photos do I realize what a mob scene it was, and that, really, it was mostly due to the holiday.
One of the moats that snake through the Forbidden City.
Another hall.
Courtyard. You can see, from this vantage point, a number of terraces/porticos/w/e that surround the main receiving hall, very beautiful stone carving.
"IT'S A MADHOUSE! A MADHOOOOOUSE!"
Why I struggled (sometimes physically) with the Chinese tourists to get blurry, ill lit photos of imperial thrones, I do not know. Not seen: me later elbowing this woman in the face. Photography is a rough business, honey.
One of the many magnificent stone stelae to be found in the Forbidden City. I believe this was carved out of one giant block of stone, and then moved on an ice track into place. Sadly, despite the many warnings not to touch the damn thing, a lot of Chinese tourist insisted on reaching over the railings and touching it. Sigh.
Another hall. They have fancy Chinese names I do not care to remember or look up.
The lovely Forbidden City gardens, with far too many people.
Rocky outcropping.
A "pavilion" in the gardens, like an outdoor office of sorts.
More rock garden.
One of the many long passageways that winds its way through the Forbidden City proper, where the Emperor actually lived, which is still incredibly big.
A palace within the palace that had been damaged by fire.
A massive courtyard within the palace proper.
A beautiful ceramic fixture called the "Seven Dragon Screen". Can you guess why?
An incredibly ornate stage within the Forbidden City, where the emperor would watch Beijing Opera.
Records of Beijing Opera cut at the Imperial Court! Awesome! For the buffs out there, considering the date of the recording, they're probably shellac 78 rpms, but don't quote me on that.
A shot of Zhongshan park, an old summer haunt of the Emperors that rises high right behind the palace. Didn't get a chance to visit, unfortunately.
The huge exterior moat of the palace.
A shot of the stupa in Beihai Park.
Beihai lake.
The Chinese cavorting on the frozen lake surface.
A calligrapher advertising his trade using water on the pavement of the park.
A lovely old bridge on the road to the Drum and Bell Towers.
The Temple of the Fire God, on the road to the Drum and Bell Towers.
The Drum Tower, from the street.
DRUM TOWER!
A closeup of the really lovely Ming Dynasty paint details.
Drums. In the Drum Tower.
The view south from the Drum Tower.
Beihai Park and Beijing haze from the Drum Tower.
The hilariously treacherous stairs leading up to the top of the Bell Tower.
Bell! This one dates from the Ming Dynasty, and there's this whole legend about how a girl threw herself into the bell mold while the bell was being cast to save her father.
The high-tech Beijing Subway.
Creepy clean subway stations.
Self-portrait, on the subway.
This little doodad tells you, in English and Chinese, where you are and where you are going. Almost like NYC, except this one ALWAYS WORKS.
The Bird's Nest, and the surrounding giant plaza.
Water Cube
Water Cube, another angle.
A big New Year's thingie, and a close-up on the Bird's Nest.
Another close up of the Bird's Nest. The stadium really is a quite thrilling piece of architecture.
YES! The first installment of food porn. This is delicious cumin lamb and nan bread (as well as green tea) at the Muslim restaurant I ate at that night. Even looking at this gives me flashbacks to how good this was.
A glammed-up-for-tourists street near my hotel.
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