Summer Palace, Beijing STILL DAY 2 ! ! !

CONTINUATION OF BEIJING PICS -- To see the first half, to go May 2007 Archives, about 3/4 of the way down. They got split because I have to enter the pictures "upside down" to make them read sensibly. I entered the last half at the end of April, and continued into early May for the first half . . . OOPS!

We've parked & are walking toward the palace area. We were told to use these potties outside the palace if we had to go because it's "disrespectful" for a commoner to potty inside the palace . . . ? Fortunately, I didn't have to go but those coming out said "breathe through your mouth." Everywhere we went in Beijing seemed to have plumbing / sewer / cleaning issues.
















Inside that gate is the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan Park). This is where the infamous "Dragon Lady" of China ruled. It's said she ordered vats of fresh fruit to sit around each day so she could smell them while the poor people outside the gate were starving!

I loved these little windows. This whole palace area (like most everywhere we went) was being restored, so this is a good example of "before". Our guide told us that everything is painted here once a year . . . hmm, I don't think so! But the ceilings that are already finished are absolutely fabulous! I'd love to see the actual painters at work.

Closeup of sea sculpture















Blooming magnolia tulip tree

Ceiling detail





























Stepping stone

Pretty stone bridge
















Look at this amazing ceiling!

Intricate ceiling detail

On the grounds inside the Summer Palace

A cool bicycle truck
















Looking at a dragon boat on the lake at Summer Palace.

Stan & Margie at the Summer Palace in front of the Marble Boat.
















This is the dragon boat that we rode across the lake.
















Ornately painted ceiling inside the boat.

View of the island from inside the "dragon boat."
































Inside a pearl shop near the Summer Palace.

Construction is everywhere . . . looking at these pictures makes me think it was raining, but it did not rain until our very last day. There was this haze that hung over the city . . . someone finally mentioned that it was smog! Oh, I'd forgotten about smog! The air is terrible here, and by the time I got home, my allergies were giving me a fit!

Summer 2008 Olympic buildings under construction . . . this one is called the "bird's nest"

Totem pole?
















Interesting bicycle. We took lots of bicycle pics for you, Sherri!

Giraffe















Busy intersection

Interesting buildings and bicycles. No one wears a helmet here. Our Chinese guide told us that bicycles are still the major mode of transportation in Beijing. She said she has owned 2, but each was stolen (no crime in Beijing, though), so now she rides public transportation. She said she would never dream of driving in the city, although she & her husband do own a car for driving outside the city . . .








Cute telephone "booth"

Look at the load of logs on this man's bicycle truck!
















Notice the lower traffic light has a bicycle & pedestrian on it. Now, it's red . . .
















Now it's green! Also, notice this shabby building. What a contrast to all the modern glass structures we've seen from the bus.