China Dec 2011

Wacky hotel room

Yummy street food

My first glimpse of the Forbidden City

Beijing at night

Ice fishing the Palace Moat

Forbidden City Sunrise

I was not prepared for snow!

All the Chinese students wanted to practice their English, and get a photo

The Frozen Forbidden City

Hall of Supreme Harmony




Beautiful bronze sculptures

Hall of Heavenly Peace


Hall of Preserving Harmony


Hall of Treasures

Jingshan Hill. Where the Emperors went to pray. The hill was created with all the dirt that was excavated for the moat. Amazing when you consider it was done by man, and animal power 700 years ago.



I had no idea of the enormity of the Forbidden City

Bronze Buddha on top of Jingshan Hill

Where the last Emperor of the Ming Dynasty hanged himself


Hacky Sackers


The frozen moat

Beijing street scene

Music Store

Frozen Moat

Mao

Soldiers marchng through Tiananmen Square

The One Western Tourist!

Tiananmen Square

Breakfast on the way to The Great Wall



Basically a chairlift...only old, creaky, and a little too rusty. This thing was scary!





16 degrees F. on the Wall. Even colder on the chair lift up! I was Freezing!!



Sunrise on The Great Wall of China






The surrounding ladscape was incredible! Giant mountains on every side. Amazing!
Squirrel on the Wall





The bird that flew me home!