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In and Around Beijing |
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Tiananmen Square
Looking west across Tiananmen Square the short way, from the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and Chinese History looking at the Great Hall of the People, seat of China's congress.
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Fawn & Kitty on the marble bridge at the entrance to the Forbidden City: Tiananmen Gate.
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ADDITIONAL PICTURES LIST
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Tian An Men Square
The tall column is the Monument to the People's Heroes, which stands between the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and Tian An Men, the southern gate intot the Forbidden City Suveillance cameras abound on the many lamp posts...[no comment].
Replacing light bulbs, and, presumably, performing maintenance on the surveillance cameras.
This building is located in the center of Tian An Men Square
Chairman Mao's crystal coffin is in this memorial hall...though we did not see it...deterred by the tremendously long lines. Without intending any disrespect, the lines are like Disney World...you would wait in line for hours for a few seconds at the actual attraction.
Just a little more than 3 weeks after this shot was taken, the 50th anniversary of Mao's declaration of the founding of the People's Republic of China was celebrated. Chairman Mao made this declaration from the balcony of Tian An Men , just above where his photo now hangs as seen in this picture.
In the Forbidden City
One must go through a series of gates and buildings to go through the Forbidden City: Starting at Tian An Men square, south of the Forbidden City, one crosses over a bridge across a semi-moat (see the picture of Kitty & Fawn above;
through the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tian An Men);
then through the Meridian Gate, a U-shaped gate which straddles the main moat around the Forbidden City;
across one of the seven bridges across the Golden Water Stream;
through the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Tai He Men);
through or alongside the Hall of Supreme Harmony;
around the Hall of Middle Harmony;
through or alongside the Hall of Preserving Harmony;
through the Gate of Heavenly Purity to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Continuing North, one encounters: the Hall of Earthy Peace; the Imperial Gardens; and then the Gate of Divine Military Genius, which is the northernmost point of the Forbidden City, and overlooks a bridge across the Moat.
Tian An Men is the main (Southern) entrance to the Forbidden City. "Men" means gate or doorway.
Meanwhile, the real tour guide was standing in line to get our tickets to enter the Forbidden City - an advantage of a guided tour. This was taken outside the Meridian Gate (which lies between the Gate of Heavenly Peace - Tian An Men - and the Gate of Supreme Harmony - Tai He Men. Tai He Men is also translated as the Gate of Great Harmony)
This is one of 7 marble bridges across the stream...which actually has green water. Our group is listening to our tour guide Bob. Bob accompanied the group from Beijing to Guangzhou...but was not permitted to enter Hong Kong. He was very easy to get along with, and very helpful. We can certainly recommend him, if you want a good guide.
The large cauldrons seen around the perimeter of this courtyard (between the Gate of Supreme Harmony and the Hall of Supreme Harmony)were used for storing water in case of fire. These were covered in gold, but the gold was mostly scraped off by European troops. Also note the dragon head drain spouts for funnelling rain water off the walkways.
In the Summer Palace
[Pictures not yet uploaded- we're hoping to have them up this month (October 1999)]
The Ming Tombs
[Pictures not yet uploaded- we're hoping to have them up this month (October 1999)]
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