Tianamen Square in Beijing is so vast and busy with many lining up for hours to pass the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. The square is in the top 10 largest city squares in the world measuring 440,500 square metres.
Beijing is a city of colour, culture and very cute children spending time with their families in the numerous parks and gardens surrounding ancient buildings and shrines.
Young and not so young enjoy time in the outdoors exercising alone or in groups, or entertaining passers by playing music on some rather unique instruments
We often think of the colour red as popular in China however the buildings are decorated with blends of beautiful hues. I seem to fit right in wearing purple.
Instruction in the art of making tea was really interesting and refreshing
The Great Wall of China covers a distance of over 21,000 kms and is a collection of walls some dating back to 7th century BC. Today, the defensive system of the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history. Climbing the Wall was definitely a Bucket List tick.
Time to share some delicious local cuisine
As a youngster I dreamed of going to the Olympic Games as a sprinter. Well that didn't happen, but I did manage to visit Beijing Olympic Park with no training required !!
A relaxing trishaw ride through the Beijing Hutongs. Hutong is the name given to a narrow lane, alley or small street between rows of single-storey Siheyuan dwelled by Beijingers in the past. When viewed from the air the interlaced lanes resemble a maze or a chessboard with delicate gardens, fine rockeries and ancient ruins which makes them a wonder in the world.
I was so excited to meet a renowned locally awarded artist, view his works and purchase two beautiful pieces to bring home. The pieces are painted on silk and signed by the artist.
Award bestowed by the Ministry of Art Beijing
Atop the fortified walls of the Old City. Beijing's inner city wall was built during the Ming Dynasty in 1419. The Ming city walls stood for nearly 550 years until the early 1960s when most of the gates and walls were torn down to build the Beijing Subway, which runs underneath where the walls stood.
Local artisans
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC with the purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife.
The figures, dating from approximately the late 3rd century BC were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing the Terracotta Army held more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which remained buried in the pits near Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum.
Delicious dumplings. Chopsticks if you can, fingers if you can't !!
Chinese opera and Peking Duck Banquet
A visit to the Shanghai Museum with well preserved artifacts most dated BC
City of Shanghai at night
The history of the silkworm, also the story of silk, goes back to ancient times in China. The most common tale on the origins of the Silkworm begins in 2640 B.C. when Si-Ling-Chi, a Chinese Empress was simply walking through her garden, when a ‘cocoon’ (of a silkworm) dropped into her tea. Upon picking it up, she found the cocoon begun to unravel, forming a beautiful string of what is now known as ‘Silk’.
A typical garden with ponds and of course Koi fish
Great company, food, beverage and traditional entertainment.
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