Beijing Day 2

[dtbh]

Day 2 was a different ballgame. We were rejuvenated after a good night's rest at our service apartment. Despite the cold outside we were very comfortable with good heaters. We actually had to switch on the aircon to balance the warmth.

Breakfast was a meal we did not look forward to as it was mediocre at best...and the same food everyday. We did not complain as we wanted to "rest" our stomach ready for the day's lunch and dinner.

Our first stop was to the Summer Palace. This was apparently first built during the 1st Chinese Dynasty about 2000 yrs ago. It had grown in size over the many dynasties that followed (can't remember the size but it was HUGE!). The royal family would come to enjoy the cooler air during summer (April to September) and it was no wonder this palace was so elaborately designed. I cannot remember what some of these images are but I'll show them anyway.

#1 Temple on entry.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2294/2076569673_6aacd71b84_o.jpg

#2 Some wall decorations fit for the royal family
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/2077363088_348673fd2a_o.jpg

#3 Lady having her breakfast
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#4 One of the entrances
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2077359740_fd4bf5635e_o.jpg

#5 Waiting
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2077368102_47376972aa_o.jpg

#6 Walkway with their elaborate ceiling decorations
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/2076560701_03ecfea6c2_o.jpg
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#7 Couple enjoying the shade along the walkway
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2076576627_b04d491da5_o.jpg

#8 Around the lake
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2065/2077357780_c2ba133f37_o.jpg
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#9 Inseparable
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2207/2076561453_1df4cedf3b_o.jpg

#10 There were many vendors selling their wares and some brought along their children to "attract" potential customers to themselves. Here is one.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/2077368950_87ca0c3308_o.jpg

#11 The above was taken near the marble "boat" where the late Empress Dowager had her entertainment. Yes, an area built in the shape of a boat out of marble. Below are some new boats near this structure.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/2077370220_11143f8a92_o.jpg

To have an idea how big this place is it took us about 2 hrs to walk from one end to the other. Thankfully the weather was cool and it was no sweat literally. We knocked off for a Mongolian buffet lunch to get ready for the afternoon tour of the Temple of Heaven. More of this later.

[ZhenMing]

wow... very the sui...

[dtbh]

wow... very the sui...

Thanks ZhenMing!

We visited the Temple of Heaven after lunch. Traffic as you can imagine was bad in Beijing; jam everywhere we went. This has given rise to some hell drivers and our coach driver wasn't far from it. Anyway by the time we reached the temple it was already about 4pm...and the Temple closes at 5pm because of the earlier sunsets in autumn.

This temple was built specially for the emperor to pray 2 (I think) times a year, once for a good harvest the following year and once for a good rainfall. Only the emperor and high ranking officials were allowed in and it is a no-no for females. The highlight of this temple is the echo wall. a circular wall that encloses a temple complex within. This characteristic was discovered by accident when if a person stands at one end hidden away from another, the other person can hear him quite distinctly on another area of the wall. Fascinating but true.

#1 Tourist listening to audio narration of the temple
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2077366108_8d4156f9f9_o.jpg

#2 The sun began to set not long after we arrived.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2338/2077353510_2e2ba039e6_o.jpg
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#3 One of the temple complexes
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/2076563093_227d6cca03_o.jpg

#4 The echo wall
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2173/2076572851_01dc4b2921_o.jpg

#5 We confirmed that it worked remarkably
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2077362298_6d6981ac13_o.jpg

#6 The temple complex within the enclosure of the echo wall
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2084/2076562269_3c79122b02_o.jpg

I didn't get to shoot very much at the Temple of Heaven as it became quite dark not long after we arrived. End of Day 2.

[ckii96]

When I was there at Summer Palace last December, the Kunming Lake was frozen!

[dtbh]

When I was there at Summer Palace last December, the Kunming Lake was frozen!

Yes, it gets frozen during winter. :)

[dtbh]

When I was there at Summer Palace last December, the Kunming Lake was frozen!

Yes, it gets frozen during winter. :)

That was what the guide told us too...can ski! :D

[noruazumi]

a very beautiful place and u captured it well doc. :)

[Fishhook]

ahhh nice pics again..that is the main reason i took up this hobby to capture the nice things i see on holiday. but looks like my skill still dont allow for that..need to improve. again thanks for sharing...now need money for holiday plus buy lens n so on:(