Forbidden City - built 600 years ago (I think this it was first started 2500 years ago....if I'm remembering my tours right!) It's 180 acres - it was amazing. The first picture is actually from Tiananmen Square looking at the gate (front door) to the Forbidden City. And yes, it was VERY cold.
Tiananmen Square - you're seeing the Hall of the People on the north side of the square. South is the National History Museum, East is the Forbidden City entrance, and West is Chairman Mao's mausoleum. The Square is the center of Beijing.
The Great Wall - amazing. It's a single wall but winds back onitself like a snake, so in some areas it might have 2 or 3 walls. And as you will see, is very steep with tiny stairs. It was cool (literally and figuratively).
The Ming Tombs. This is the Gate leading into the Sacred Road, which royal families walked to bury, or get to the tomb. It's lined with carved animals and soldiers to guard. There are 4 animals each, 2 sitting and 2 standing. The ones sitting are resting while the standing are on guard. These carvings were huge (the face of the statue below - I'm looking up at and had to telephoto in a bit), as was everything we saw (I'm the white coat below). The Chinese build nothing small. And again this was built 600 years ago - without nails.
We saw some wheelchair basketball, which was really cool. They do not hold back. The players are on the floor as much as any basketball team, they just have to push themselves back up to a wheelchair. Extremely aggressive! Hoop height is the same as are many of the rules....it was cool. Got to meet a guy that's played on the Australian team...it was fun.
Tiananmen Square - you're seeing the Hall of the People on the north side of the square. South is the National History Museum, East is the Forbidden City entrance, and West is Chairman Mao's mausoleum. The Square is the center of Beijing.
The Great Wall - amazing. It's a single wall but winds back onitself like a snake, so in some areas it might have 2 or 3 walls. And as you will see, is very steep with tiny stairs. It was cool (literally and figuratively). 
The Ming Tombs. This is the Gate leading into the Sacred Road, which royal families walked to bury, or get to the tomb. It's lined with carved animals and soldiers to guard. There are 4 animals each, 2 sitting and 2 standing. The ones sitting are resting while the standing are on guard. These carvings were huge (the face of the statue below - I'm looking up at and had to telephoto in a bit), as was everything we saw (I'm the white coat below). The Chinese build nothing small. And again this was built 600 years ago - without nails.
We saw some wheelchair basketball, which was really cool. They do not hold back. The players are on the floor as much as any basketball team, they just have to push themselves back up to a wheelchair. Extremely aggressive! Hoop height is the same as are many of the rules....it was cool. Got to meet a guy that's played on the Australian team...it was fun.
Shopping is an interesting experience. You must bargain - I don't, but learned and ended up not doing too bad. The girls are wearing some of the purchases.
It was a great trip. Amazing in some ways, and just a BIG city in others (17 million people, expecting 3.5 million cars on the road in Beijing by August). Worked non stop while we were there - yes we got to see all these things, but it was a quick trip for everything. Got lots of hotel photos too if you want to see the inside of about 6 hotels!! Enjoy. Cari
I loved seeing your pics Cari. Thanks so much for adding them to the blog. Sounds like you were able to see a lot of amazing stuff. Can't believe you were in China! Glad all went well.
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