China photos

Beijing Xian Guilin Li River Yangshuo Ping An

Kunming Lijiang Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing

Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Beijing photos

Beijing Xian Guilin Li River Yangshuo Ping An Kunming Lijiang

Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

This was actually taken at the end of my trip

in Shanghai at the bottom of the Pearl TV Tower

I love the Chinese Lions and took many photos of them.

A vendor cooking up corn.

Corn on the cob was very popular all over China.

I just liked the storefront.

Local Transportation

Naptime I guess

Bronze statues are all over major cities.

Screaming on streets is common to get shoppers inside.

Trying a Hookah

Snuff bottles are a very popular art throughout the country.

The artist uses very fine brushes to paint inside the very small

bottle opening. I brought two beautiful bottles home.

It was a one week holiday in China and that was the whole week I was in Beijing so Tianamen Square was crazy busy.

Tianamen Square Monument showing the working people.

Military on Holiday

The entrance to the "Gate of Heavenly Peace" at the Forbidden City

A Lion Guard

Guards in front of the "Gate of Heavenly Peace"

The portrait is of Sherman Mau and it says,

Left: : "Long Live the People's Republic of China"

Right: "Long Live the Great Unity of the World's Peoples"

Another Lion Guard

A Great Wall Mural

Incense Burners are common all over China

Bridge in the Summer Palace

Marble Boat in the Summer Palace

"Qingyanfang" (Boat of Clearness and Comfort),

Dragon Boat

East Gate Entrance Statue at the Summer Palace's

Hall of Benevolence and Longevity

Garden of Virtue and Harmony

Chaoyang Theatre where I saw the Chinese Acrobatics

A Street Painter

Temple of Heaven: it symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven – the human world and God's world –

which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony

I played this paddle game with this lady for a while and

I had so much fun, I bought a set. I just liked the

Ying Yang that was on the raquets.

There were many couples ballroom dancing in the square and I was a spectator tapping my feet till this gentleman asked for a dance.

We danced for 1/2 hour with quite a crowd of spectators.

I saw a few in China

I saw many Pizza Huts and KFC's are everywhere.

McDonalds were in most cities as well.

Starbucks were in many cities as well.

Start of a Hutong Tour in a Pedicab

The Hutongs - Alleyways formed by rows of Siheyuan or spaces

enclosed by walls or an enclosed quadrangle area

This is a look into Chinese tradition. These homes are several

hundred years old and well preserved but there are very few left.

A Hutong Shopping Street

A look into a home.

This was a sweet cut and served all over

I fell in love with this curio display. I want one.

Another Street Artist

This was an amazing Kung Fu show. It was a touching story of a monk

and his life following tradition, breaking tradition and returning home.

It is a must see and my favorite show I saw in China.

Me getting into the action with the performers post show.

"One World: One Dream" - China's logo for the 2008 Olympics

This was at The Great Wall at Badaling

Badaling is a mountain pass of the Jundu Mountain. It is at the highest point of north end of the Guan'gou Gorge

The elevation is at almost 3300 ft

The Badaling Wall is almost 2 1/2 miles

This portion of the wall was built during the Ming Dynasty

between 1368 to 1644

The first section of the wall to be opened to the public in 1957.

It is approximately 50 miles Northwest of Beijing

Quite amazing to see the distance.

Running around the wall.

Black bears await you at the end of the wall.

The Great Red Entrance to the Ming Tombs.

13 Emperors are buried here in the 15 square mile complex.

"Spirit Avenue" lines the walkway and is guarded by 36 statues.

The 24 animal and 12 human statues were carved in the 15th Century.

Dressed in ceremonial attire to appear before the emperor.

Ceramic funerary ovens were used to burn sacrifices of silk

and money for the deceased emperor.

The Chinese Opera

Great colors and architecture.

Dong Hua Men Night Market Selling Misc. Delicacies

It is a must see. It is quite a loud competition to get your business. .

A zoo variety of meaty skewers for every palate.

Scorpions & Seahorses

Black Scorpions, Grasshoppers, Frog Legs

Oysters, Larvae, Baby Sparrows, Eels, Octopus & More

Refreshment drink stands are all over.

These trams run along Wangfujing Market Street.

Xian photos

Beijing Xian Guilin Li River Yangshuo Ping An Kunming Lijiang

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Wild Goose Pagoda built in the Tang Dynasty 618-907.

Bronze statues can be found all over the country.

Special Buddha Statues are Found Around the Complex

China's Happy Buddha Image

Da Ci'en Temple - Fa Dang

Xian Bell Tower Square

People perform during the day and bring telescopes out at night

Xian's Bell Tower

The geographical center for the ancient capital.

Tang Dynasty Show

Beautiful Square at Night

Stargazing

Xian at Night

Famous Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum, Lintong County, Shaanxi province.

Qin Shi Huang, 1st emperor of China at age 13, 246 BC started his mausoleum and it took 11 years to finish.

They army was buried with him in 210 BC.

The first of three pits was discovered in 1974. Guestimating

700,000 workers and craftsmen took 36 years to complete it.

Each soldier, infantry, archer, and officer varies in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance to rank. No two are alike.

Altogether over 8,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from these pits.

Huaqing Hot Springs- Tang Emperor Xuanzong often spent the winter here in the company of his favorite concubine Yang Guifei.

Yang Guifei, (one of 4 beauties) 719-756 Tang Dynasty, is

said to have "a face that would make all flowers feel shameful"

Xian East Street at Night

Shaanxi Provincial History Museum - a striking Tang-Dynasty

style pavilion, houses 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts

Guilin photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Xian Square Center

Loved the Restaurant Name

Great Storefront

What matters is what you see in your reflection!

With a history of 3.6 hundred million years, it resembles an elephant sucking water from the river with its long trunk

A lovely stroll over the bridge through the park will

take you to many fine statues.

This chair is used to help those who are unable to make the

walk through Reed Flute Cave

The entrance lies at the foot of Guangming Hill. It is 600,000 thousand years old. Discovered in 1956 the cave got it's name from the reeds that covered the entrance and were used to make flutes.

The passage is 1,640 ft long and has amazing stalagmites

and stalactites and is artfully illuminated.

The center of the cave "Crystal Palace" can accommodate up to 1,000 people. This is the natural formed "Manhattan Skyline".

Another View of Guilin City Central

Cormorant Birds Night Fishing on the shallow Lijiang River

The bird has a string tied around its neck so it can not swallow

the fish that it catches for the fisherman.

Just a fast food place (I liked the name)

This is hysterical. The kids all over China have their pants

open and no undies so they can squat anywhere at any time.

Banyan Lake Pagodas During the Day

Banyan Lake Pagodas at Night Opposite Side of River

Li River photos

Beijing Xian Guilin Li River Yangshuo Ping An Kunming Lijiang

Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Li River Cruise Views

I boarded in Guilin for the 4 1/2 hour Li River Cruise to Yangshou.

Cat's Ears

The hills that appear on the left side of a 20 Yuan Note

This view appears on the 20 Yuan note

This shot comes from another website and I'd be happy to

post it if you send me the site.

Yangshuo photos

Beijing Xian Guilin Li River Yangshuo Ping An Kunming Lijiang

Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Arrival at Yangshou

A Cormorant Fisherman

The Amazing View From my Hotel Room Balcony

Moon Hill-A huge rock with a round hole in the center. 800 steps get you to the top. It resembles a crescent to a full moon from different angles..

Moon Hill Village

Getting ready for the lunch rush.

Amazing formations in Black Buddha Cave

Climbing up through some tough spots

Amazing formations from ceiling to floor

I honestly thought there would beno way I would fit through there.

I'm trying not to break my camera and watch as I'm squirming around.

Ok, my legs are finally through...

...but I lost my shoe.

The Picturesque View is Breathtaking

The artists are so talented.

Pedestrian Only Xian Qian Street

A Cafe on West Street

Ping An photos

Beijing Xian Guilin Li River Yangshuo Ping An Kunming Lijiang

Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Ping An - A Mountainside Village Near Longsheng

This chair is used for those unable to make the walk to the villages.

The Bai villagers wait in the parking lots to carry tourists bags up the mountain on their backs to the cottages, home stays and hotels.

This is a great source of income for them. The cost was about $1.

Dragon Spine Rice Terraces

Knee Deep in Work

5 minutes before this shot I was able to see nothing but fog.

When it cleared I had great views of the village.

Kunming photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. 22 of China's minority groups live in this region.

This supermarket Trust-Mart was right across from Wal-Mart.

There Wal-Mart however carries live frogs, whole pigs, and boxed gift sets with animal delicacies and chicken essence. It was in this Walmart that I purchased cosmetics and 2 men broke out in a physical brawl.

Sani Tribal Village

I Loved This Face

Some adolescents returning home.

The oldest lady of the village.

These kids were following me laughing so much. They kept saying my hair looked like noodles. Of course I needed a translator to tell me that.

A Tombstone at the village.

Stone Forest, one of my favorite sites was formed 270 million years ago. Limestones had formed under the sea and a Himalayan earthquake erupted

A Karst, Limestone Landscape, filled with unlimited stone spires springing up from the ground forming all types of shapes.

It covers about 73,800 acres. It is a true natural phenomenon.

I was creative and saw specific shapes everywhere.

Some were just obvious: A Camel

An Eagle

A Totem Pole

Praying Hands

Lijiang photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Lijiang Town Center was built 800 years ago by the Naxi.

Town Center Square

Minority Ethnic Group Dances - Lijiang is inhabited by Naxi, Yi, Pumi, Lisu, Tibetan and Bai groups.

Along the Jinsha River. Many scholars, writers and legend

hero's were from this region.

An artist used a hot rod iron to carve into this block of bark. I really loved it so I bought it from the artist after he etched my name and his on the back of the piece along with the date. I just love it.

There was a restaurant grand opening and celebration.

It was quite an elaborate event at night with music and dancing.

This is the Naxi men famous for playing their traditional music and trying to stay awake for the performance. It is quite humorous.

Snow Capped Jade Dragon (Yulong)

Lijiang was just beautiful in spite of the cold.

The closest snow-capped mountain to the equator

on the Northern Hemisphere.

A Traditional Pipe

A Natural Refrigerator from the melting snow water from Yulong Mountain. Naxi Pictorial language is used. This sign says drinking, eating and sleeping. It is a guesthouse and restaurant.

It was very cold here and the huge, thick and heavy hula-hoop

helped to keep me warm. I was pretty good after all those years.

Great tapestries

Typical Naxi Village Street

The Entrance to Black Dragon Pool

A sign at the bottom of the tram

A lovely reflection and view.

Riding to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The elevation was very

high and I had altitude sickness. I couldn't catch my breath. I could barely stay awake and I had the worst pounding headache.

In spite of the way I felt, I slowly hiked the area to see the temple.

It was a struggle but I eventually made it.

It was a very unique Buddhist Temple.

The hike was worth these Yak and mountain shots.

chengdu & wolong photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Red Pandas are also rare and live in the same habitat as Pandas.

Many Red Pandas with some help in Photoshop

A day-old panda looks rather like a small white rat and weighs about 3.5 ounces, about 1/900 of the mother's body weight.

(photo from the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center)

Mothers will stay in caves or hollow trees when giving birth and remain there for three to four months after their babies are born.

(photo from the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center)

Wolong Giant Panda Wilderness Reserve began in 1963

There may only be 1500 pandas in the world today

Although it is a carnivore, the panda's diet consists almost exclusively of bamboo and it usually spends 14 hours a day eating.

Pandas inhabited earth for 3 million years. They are called "living fossils" because many species that survived with pandas in the past, such as stegodon (big tusk elephants) and Chinese rhinos are now extinct.

Pandas can live for about 20 years in the wild.

A female panda only comes into season for 72 hours a year

This was a fun shot

Pandas like to live alone and will not often meet other pandas unless they get together during the mating season. What a Romantic Shot!

I Felt So Very Lucky!

tibet photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Some Great Aerial Shots From the Plane Flying Over Tibet

What a magnificent view! Lhasa is at 11,700 ft above sea level.

This was the first Buddhist temple I saw on the way to Lhasa from the airport. It is carved in the mountainside.

Jokhang Temple in Barkhor square attracts thousands of pilgrims daily.

Built in the 17th century it is the most revered temple in Tibetan Buddhism

Vendors walk the square as well selling a variety of goods and

food items to tempt the palate.

Barkhor Sqare is a religious and ceremonial place.

Monks are seen everywhere.

Tables are a colorful mass of a variety of all types of souvenirs.

Vendors line the streets selling goods outside the actual shops.

They walk clockwise around Jokhang Temple counting their 108 prayer beads in one hand & spinning their prayer wheel in the other.

The shops are colorful and have something to attract most tourists.

A Pilgrim in Prostration

One stretches at full length upon the road, touching the furthest place they can reach with their fingertips, chanting a mantra as they do so.

Then they stand up and walk to that place, and begin another prostration.

The result is that the traveler's body touches every millimeter of the sacred road along the sacred journey.

The most difficult--and most meritorious and rigorous way to travel is by means of prostrations.

A vendor at the local market.

Mom

Her Son

I loved the main street.

Many pedi cabs to assist when you need a ride

This superstitious and religious culture finds praying Buddhists outside the temple at all times. Many perform stationery prostrations.

Some may travel thousands of miles doing prostrations. One story tells of a pilgrim that performed 1 million to reach his destination and in his one month of rest thousands of stationery prostrations were still done daily.

The temple is circled all day and night. Kora's are worn well

with yak leather shoe soles as they shuffle along.

View of Lhasa from Potala Palace, Dali Lamas Home

The Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet sits

across the street from Potala Palace.

Potala Palace had been rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645.

Mainly comprised by the White Palace, Potrang Karpo (administerial building) 1648 and the added Red Palace, Potrang Marpo (religious building) 1692.

It was constructed by over 7000 laborers and 1500 craftsman and artists.

The colors on prayer poles as seen from the top of Jokhang temple represent: Red-Buddha, White-Sky, Yellow-Earth/Ground, Blue-Clouds, Green-Water

I thought I would be creative and get the backside of Potala

A Wedding Celebration

A drummer at a cultural performance of traditional music and dance.

A fresh new look in Tibet even if only for a night.

The view from Potala

A Village near Norbulingka - The Summer Palace

I visited with a local family in their home and it was quite special.

It was colorfully decorated

Hanging out on the street corner. There were more beggars than I

had expected to see including many children. It did surprise me.

Norbulingka Summer Palace for the Dalai Lama

Chinese Pavilion at the Summer Palace

Going for a walk

Colored flags are found everywhere so the wind

can spread Buddha's scripture

Drak Yerpa, a limestone cave hermitage is one of the holiest cave retreats. The site is deeply peaceful and has stunning views.

A monk watching one of the caves.

Solar heating is a popular way to cook.

I just loved his look.

Allow for a couple of hours to get around the caves and

to just hike to the top of the mountain.

The caves are built into the mountain. Drak Yerpa holds one of

the eight most important Guru Rinpoche caves in the Himalayas.

It is the Enlightenment Cave.

A Stuppa with a view

Lhasa Museum

The Wheel of Life Thangka That I Bought

The Mandala I bought

A Thangka Wall Hanging

One last look at Potala Palace before I go

chongqing photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Chongqing is the largest city in the Szechuan Province.

McDonalds Ice Cream booths are very popular and outside most McDonalds.

Of course the cities look like mini Las Vegas's

The bronze statues were nothing new to see.

The Dazu Grottoes were amazing. These rock carvings began in the

Tang Dynasty, 650 AD & continued to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

More than 55,000 Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian Rock carvings and 100,000 characters of inscriptions appear at Dazu on Baoding Mountain.

A pagoda in the Distance from the Grottoes

At The Stilwell Museum

The Hall of the People resembles the Temple of Heaven in Beijing

Front gate at people's Assembly Hall

Here is the wheel of life like my Thangka. 3 concentric circles and 6 segments. Yama, the Lord of Death turns the wheel. 3 figures are in the center: The pig-delusion, the rooster greed and the snake hatred. They are the 3 poisons. The middle circle shows rising and falling. Those who live good lives ascend & those who live bad lives descend. The 6 realms or segments depict Samsara realms, cycle of birth and death. Top - Realm of Gods, place of happiness and pleasure and leisure. 2nd Demi-Gods or titans live flawed existence due to jealousy and makes them compete. 3rd Hungry Ghosts or Pretas always hungry and thirsty. 4th Hell Realm being tormented by hot and cold extremes. Opportunities for good actions are limited so difficult to escape from here. 5th Animal realm dominated by instinct and survival mode so moral action is limited. 6th and final Humans pleasant and unpleasant aspects. This has the most opportunity for gaining enlightenment to Buddhists. Unlike the Gods, we can focus on other things besides sensory pleasures. We will see things as not all they can be so we will ask questions and seek answers. This gives opportunity for moral action and spiritual advancement. We should take advantage that we are born in this life as human. A Bodhisattva, enlightened being, is depicted in each realm to show that compassionate beings are at each stage to help those that are there.

Yangtze River photos

Beijing Xian Guilin Li River Yangshuo Ping An Kunming Lijiang

Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

The Victoria Star was my home for 3 nights cruising the 3rd largest river in the world visiting Fengdu, Wushan and 3 Gorges Dam Project

Crew Directors Bob & Jennifer, River Guide Michael and

Captain Gong Ju Cheng

Fengdu, the Ghost City, is the abode to the devils.

Spirits go to heaven and evil goes to Fendgu. This giant statue of the Lord of the Underworld in the hillside overlooking the river is said to have a restaurant in his head. But I'm not sure.

Fengdu, built 1800 years ago will become an island when the

dam project is completed. This photo is the face of the Lord of the Underworld and the back of his head resembles a parking garage. I guess it could be a restaurant. Who knows.

Quite the debate to either walk or ride to the top of Mt. Minshan in the awful heat. Of course we climbed by stairs. It was a fun group.

The fanged Gui or ghost is inscribing the character Gui on the smaller one

The temple on Mt. Minshan displays a variety of punishments that

the Chinese imagine to be like hell.

A gate I liked

Sunset on the Yangtze

Depth Markers are already submerged and more will follow

as the dam project progresses. It was witnessing history to see it.

The Qutang Gorge is considered the most beautiful with its gentle bluff banks and ancient plank pathways.

Wu Gorge is famous for deep zigzagging valley and forested mountains.

Cruising on the Daning River through the lesser 3 gorges.

Fairy Peak at Wu Gorge is the most famous of the 12 Peaks of Wushan. A huge limestone column stands 20 feet high atop the mountain. It resembles a standing girl with exquisite figure. The celestial girl, Yao Ji, descended from heaven to help Da Yu conquer floods. Decided to stay to ensure the safety of boats that pass through the Three Gorges. Standing out from clouds and fog, she appears beautiful and mysterious.

The government will be providing new housing for all of

those that will lose their homes due to the flooding.

Some areas or cities will also continue to be lost under the water.

Xiling gorge is a shallower section of weathered shoals

and turbulent rapids. Koni admiring the view

Lion Dance

Great entertainment on board

24 Billion Dam Project - The second phase is now complete

It is the world's largest hydroelectric project.

1 1/2 miles wide and 600 ft high, it will create a resevoir 400-miles long

and hundreds of feet deep. It will create the electricity of

18 nuclear power plants.

Entering the ship locke

Lowering the water

It is awesome to see it

An unfinished bridge

suzhou photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Lovely Music to Welcome You

Limestone Rocks were just beautiful and well preserved

The canals of Suzhou

Tiger Hill Pagoda (Yunyansi) built 959-961 AD

Seven story brick Pagoda with eight sides. Leans to the north about 3.5 degrees and weighs 6000 tons..

Witnessing Daily Life on the Canal

Passing under bridges and tunnels.

This was the boat I rode and here it turns to return.

It is the same size as the width of the river.

A man stepping out in contemplation.

McDonald's Cart was Very Cute

I remember playing Chinese Jump Rope as a kid.

Bridge over the Grand Canal

North Temple Pagoda with Buddha Image

Just a beautiful shot I took.

Maybe I should be a wedding photographer.

On the ground, this Dragon and Phoenix represent the balance of men and women or Ying and Yang. I bought a wood carving replica of this.

hangzhou photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Hangzhou's West Lake - The most beautiful in China dates 2000 years

Marco Polo called Hangzhou "the most beautiful city in the world".

shanghai photos

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Chengdu & Wolong Tibet Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai

Facade of former Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Building. Named most beautiful building from the Suez Canal to the Bering Sea.

Shanghai Custom House 1925-1927. Architectural styles include gothic, baroque, Romanesque, and renaissance.

The Oriental Pearl Tower Model

Peace Momument

Pudong City Center and The Bund

Oriental Pearl Tower on the Huangpu River

From the Shanghai Museum

Beautiful Sculptures

Impressive Bronze Statues

Typical Drink Refreshment Stops

America's and Africa

Asia from the other side

View From the Top of the Tower

Street View Below from the Tower

Entering the Old Town

Yu Yuan Garden, a place of peace and comfort in the heart of bustling Shanghai, dates back to the fabled Ming Dynasty.

The garden is in the old town of Shanghai and my favorite area.

I loved the square, the beautiful gardens and people watching.

The narrow streets were filled with great shops.

Beautiful temples and prayer spots are all spotted.

Jade Buddha Temple with a reclining Buddha image on a mahogany couch, in a state of nirvana, looking serene and peaceful.

The grounds are lovely with a variety of Bonsai Trees

Nanjing Road at Night

So Much Excitement and Bright Lights

I loved eating at Yoshinoya!

Nighttime at the Bund

Two more nights to go

How appropriate to have such a display my last night.

The roaring thunder of fireworks went on for over 45 minutes.

What a magnificent view from my hotel room of Baidu Bridge and

the Monument to the People's Hero's

It was an amazing 3 1/2 months in Asia but unfortunately it was now time to return home.