CHINA
BEIJING
A 30-hour train ride into Communist China may sound forbidding, but in reality our private 1st class cabin was more luxurious than any in Europe. We were provided embroidered linens, hot tea in our compartment at all times, & terry cloth slippers to take with us when we left. We even had a digital display over the door giving us the time, temperature & station information in both Chinese and English. We'd never seen that in Europe.
On our first morning in Beijing we set out early for the Forbidden City. Between our hotel and the bus stop, we had an uncomfortable encounter with the commuters. Yes they're really coming right at us! Early morning rush hour was quite a dangerous time on the street where we lived! The blue wall partitioned off a construction site and we couldn't cross the road because of all the buses. So we were forced to walk against the on coming bicycle traffic, which is far more "dangerous" than cars.
This beautiful pagoda is located in Jingshan Park, directly across the street from the Forbidden City, and was originally a part of it. The pagoda and a Buddhist Temple sit high on a hill affording a wonderful view of all the buildings & grounds of the Forbidden City.
Just to the west is Beihai Park, also formerly a part of the Forbidden City and its royal gardens. The central island, shown here, holds the White Pagoda, tallest temple in the city.
This magnificent Pentagonal Pagoda is located in the Gardens of the Summer Palace, residence of the emperor until 1911.
Here's Fred right in the heart of the Forbidden City, where we were surprised to find a Starbucks. They still treat you like an emperor on a cold afternoon.
GREAT WALL & MING TOMBS
From high atop this lookout tower, we surveyed the difficult climb ahead of us. The Great Wall takes your breath away, both literally and figuratively!
The stairs at this particular stretch of The Wall go straight up the mountainside! Why don't they ever show you this photo in the tourist brochures?
Jim & Elaine, an American couple staying at our hotel, made the Climb with us. The men, both over 6 feet tall, made it a lot farther than the women did, but then one of them commented that some of the steps were actually higher than the girls knees!
Ahhh!! The view from the top, of this ridge anyway. The Great Wall snakes through the mountainous countryside farther than the eye can see. This is a restored section.
This view shows how steep the stairs really are! Just past the mildly level stretch in the foreground is another staircase that is even steeped. It reminded me of a water slide with a 90% drop. You're next in line to go, but you still can't see the slide, or in this case steps, beneath you. Another thing that reminded me of a water slide was the silly little, "Cable Car" that appears coiled, just to the left of The Wall. While sitting on an aluminum sledge, you are pulled up the hill. Later, you get a roller coaster ride back down.
This is the entrance to one of a dozen or more tombs of the Ming Dynasty Emperors When this tomb was opened in 1950's many of the antiquities disintegrated from exposure to the air. Consequently all the other tombs remain sealed. Once inside, the excavators found the Sarcophagus was never placed in the center burial chamber, reserved for the Emperor. The elaborate coffin had been made too large to fit through the doors, so the burial party sealed it in an antechamber. Who was to know?
SHANGHAI
The seven great "No's." Rules of conduct are displayed in front of Peoples Square. English alternates with Chinese characters.
Not much needs to be said here. "A picture is worth a thousand words." (Local saying). This neon light spectacle goes on every night along this main pedestrian street. Our hotel was just off this street. The shops and restaurants remain open to 11:00. The prices were the lowest of any city on our tour including Hong Kong.
More neon lights. The motion and changing colors don't show with still photography, but I think you get the idea. This store is full of neat toys and clothes for kids.
The financial district. Lujiazui Green is in the foreground and the Shanghai Securities Exchange Building is on the left. A fun sightseeing bus makes the rounds to all of the major buildings. The overcast sky with light rain shades the city this afternoon.
The busy Hangpo River as seen from my luncheon window on the 47th floor of the Shanghai Securities and Exchange Building. I was served a delightful meal by an attentive staff at a low price. Just what every city needs! The staff spoke good English and provided me with a telephone to speak with Melody on the other side of the river at the American Airlines office. Ocean liners and ore barges make their home on the Hangpo River.
The modern skyline is a dazzling sight. Decorative architecture is in. Office buildings, roadways and super bridges make every view a delight. Germany built and funded the sub-way system. This city rivals the beauty and convenience of Hong Kong and Singapore.
HONG KONG
View of the ships moored across the harbor at Kowloon as seen from our youth hostel on Hong Kong Island atop Mount Davis.
Typical busy roadway on Hong Kong Island. Double decker buses and trams are used here almost exclusively. It must shorten the lines of traffic. The streets are always busy and always clean.
The ferrys to Macau are constantly moving back and forth across the wide mouth of the Pearl River.. Here a water jet powered catamaran heads past the skyline of Kowloon which is part of the mainland area of Hong Kong.
An express way on Hong Kong Island with pedestrian walkways. The walkways connect most major buildings at the third level as well as to the street below. We stayed here on Hong Kong Island and spent much of our time on the double decker trams. We used the Star Ferry for our crossing to Kowloon most of the time. A shuttle bus transported us from Mount Davis to the tower building complex for the Macau Ferry.
Hong Kong is full of highly decorative office buildings. The all glass Lippo Bank building looks different from all sides.
Night view if the Hong Kong skyline as viewed from Queen Victoria's Peak. We took a cable car up the steep mountain to the Peak Restaurant for dinner and the view. This photo is taken along Victoria's walk, which goes from the Peak Restaurant along the top of the mountain. The views are delightful. This was the only clear night here during our entire stay. The next day we left for Bangkok and might have missed this photo.