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Peiying Mo | profile | all galleries >> Travel >> Shanghai to Beijing 2010 >> Quick Visits in Beijing tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Quick Visits in Beijing

We were lucked out by the best weather and air we had seen in Beijing in years. It was indeed the best time to be here, the autumn sky was clear and temperature was pleasant, perfect for us Californians. It was also the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese version of Thanksgiving, when families get together, eating mooncakes, having a drink under the full moon. We took mom and her older sister for a quick visit in Beijing, both at historical sites and something new. They were exhausted but glad they did. I also witness the purchasing power of China's new generation.
Crowded bullet train between Beijing and Tianjin on Mid Autumn Day, standing seats sold for the same price as sitting
Crowded bullet train between Beijing and Tianjin on Mid Autumn Day, standing seats sold for the same price as sitting		 The train reaches more than 200 miles an hour
The train reaches more than 200 miles an hour		 Attendant tries to sell some useless souveniers
Attendant tries to sell some useless souveniers		 At Tianjin Train Station
At Tianjin Train Station
The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace		 The manmade Kunmining Lake is known for lotus flowers in the summer time
The manmade Kunmining Lake is known for lotus flowers in the summer time		 A musician plays a gourd like flute for money
A musician plays a gourd like flute for money		 The marble boat symbolizes stability of the Qing Dynasty
The marble boat symbolizes stability of the Qing Dynasty
The 700m+ long Long Corridor along the lake keeps one cool in hot summer days
The 700m+ long Long Corridor along the lake keeps one cool in hot summer days		 one of the 11,000 original paintings that were once covered up with white wash during the Cultural Revolution
one of the 11,000 original paintings that were once covered up with white wash during the Cultural Revolution		 Many people paintings are based on history or classic novels
Many people paintings are based on history or classic novels		 Tower of Buddhist Incense
Tower of Buddhist Incense
The heavily decorated PaiFang, a popular architecture in front of a main entrance
The heavily decorated PaiFang, a popular architecture in front of a main entrance		 The Hall of Longevity - the mirror inside is etched with 100 styles of the character Longevity
The Hall of Longevity - the mirror inside is etched with 100 styles of the character Longevity		 The Kunming Lake with lots of lotus plants
The Kunming Lake with lots of lotus plants		 The Longevity Hill
The Longevity Hill
The 17-Arche Bridge
The 17-Arche Bridge		 Lots of motor operated boats are on the lake
Lots of motor operated boats are on the lake		 The Jade Spring Pagoda
The Jade Spring Pagoda		 There are many ferries carrying tourists from one of the park to another
There are many ferries carrying tourists from one of the park to another
The Longevity Hill
The Longevity Hill		 Docking area is beautifully decorated
Docking area is beautifully decorated		 The old style bridge that has a steeper climb but nearly round passage
The old style bridge that has a steeper climb but nearly round passage		 A topiary in the shape of a bronze wine vessel
A topiary in the shape of a bronze wine vessel
Reflections of boats at Shishahai (什刹海)
Reflections of boats at Shishahai (什刹海)		 The lake will be frozen solid, enough to skate on
The lake will be frozen solid, enough to skate on		 The Hutong Tour sometimes requires traditional rickshaws to travel around the narrow streets in old part of Beijing
The Hutong Tour sometimes requires traditional rickshaws to travel around the narrow streets in old part of Beijing		 Traditional style courtyard in Beijing
Traditional style courtyard in Beijing
The huge vat collecting rain water was used to put out fires in the old days
The huge vat collecting rain water was used to put out fires in the old days		 Soft clay figurines for show and sale
Soft clay figurines for show and sale		 The National Center of Performing Arts is shaped like an egg with the reflection,
The National Center of Performing Arts is shaped like an egg with the reflection,		 The Great Hall of the People and the Egg
The Great Hall of the People and the Egg
Full moon over the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square
Full moon over the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square		 Sleeping Beauty - a modern interpretation by Les Ballets De Monte-Carlo from Monaco - one of the best I saw in recent memories
Sleeping Beauty - a modern interpretation by Les Ballets De Monte-Carlo from Monaco - one of the best I saw in recent memories		 A photo developing center. Service includes photo touchups.
A photo developing center. Service includes photo touchups.		 The 2008 Beijing Olympics Statium shapes like a bird's nest
The 2008 Beijing Olympics Statium shapes like a bird's nest
All the light fixers resemble the tail of a bird
All the light fixers resemble the tail of a bird		 The main entrance to the stadium in 2008
The main entrance to the stadium in 2008		 The poorly engineered Olympics torch has to be taken down for replacement
The poorly engineered Olympics torch has to be taken down for replacement		 The Olympic Village
The Olympic Village
Another view of the Bird's Nest
Another view of the Bird's Nest		 The Water Cube looks better at night when it turns to blue, where Michael Phelps broke records
The Water Cube looks better at night when it turns to blue, where Michael Phelps broke records		 DSC_0276.jpg
DSC_0276.jpg		 The crew that keeps the place clean
The crew that keeps the place clean
Part of the open space in the park is now a covered food court
Part of the open space in the park is now a covered food court		 It is well maintained, no cash is allowed and debit card can be purchased upon entrance
It is well maintained, no cash is allowed and debit card can be purchased upon entrance		 Most of the foods are very similar from one another
Most of the foods are very similar from one another		 NBC, one of many foreign companies, broadcast its programs from this tower
NBC, one of many foreign companies, broadcast its programs from this tower
Despite the ribbons, people climb in to pose for a photo
Despite the ribbons, people climb in to pose for a photo		 Old Town Dashilan in Qianmen, south of Tiananmen Square
Old Town Dashilan in Qianmen, south of Tiananmen Square		 Seamstress shop geared toward older people, a rare sight
Seamstress shop geared toward older people, a rare sight		 Shu-Mai (烧卖), the birthplace of the popular food, named by an Emperor after his visit in 1735.
Shu-Mai (烧卖), the birthplace of the popular food, named by an Emperor after his visit in 1735.
Paifang - entrance before the Front Gate (Qianmen)
Paifang - entrance before the Front Gate (Qianmen)		 The new Communication Center for TV shapes like a pair of Pants.
The new Communication Center for TV shapes like a pair of Pants.		 SanLiTun - a high end trendy shopping center
SanLiTun - a high end trendy shopping center		 Directory is painted on one of the buildings
Directory is painted on one of the buildings
It is still early and only one store is open
It is still early and only one store is open		 It is an Apple!
It is an Apple!		 The line is very long and wraps the Apple building a few times
The line is very long and wraps the Apple building a few times		 People are patient, looking through the glass walls
People are patient, looking through the glass walls
2nd floor is reserved for iPad only, which was released a week earlier
2nd floor is reserved for iPad only, which was released a week earlier		 iPhone 4 is released today, with instruction for queuing. iPhone4 has a 7 day return policy
iPhone 4 is released today, with instruction for queuing. iPhone4 has a 7 day return policy		 Police and police dog are called in to ensure order
Police and police dog are called in to ensure order		 The police asks the tourist (or media person) to stop taking photos
The police asks the tourist (or media person) to stop taking photos
Boxes of packaging materials are tossed out from the back door
Boxes of packaging materials are tossed out from the back door		 Each new happy customer walks out with his/her new toys, while staff line up applauding
Each new happy customer walks out with his/her new toys, while staff line up applauding		 Giant butterfly made of glass and metal
Giant butterfly made of glass and metal		 Another giant statue at a store front
Another giant statue at a store front
Obama dressed like Chairman Mao, with Mao's slogan below: Serve the people.
Obama dressed like Chairman Mao, with Mao's slogan below: Serve the people.		 A trendy store houses work from promising artists. Store name is Mint, Gluten Rice, and Onion (BNC)
A trendy store houses work from promising artists. Store name is Mint, Gluten Rice, and Onion (BNC)		 Many artworks make a political statement. This one says return my bamboo!
Many artworks make a political statement. This one says "return my bamboo!"		 I hate city is used repeatedly to form the word Tear Down.
"I hate city" is used repeatedly to form the word "Tear Down".
Come on and get me
"Come on and get me"		 The neckline in this dress is made up by three layers of multiple zippers
The neckline in this dress is made up by three layers of multiple zippers		 Each sets of jewelry is presented with the bio of the artist
Each sets of jewelry is presented with the bio of the artist		 Authentic Ming china is used in the one of a kind jewelry collection.
Authentic Ming china is used in the one of a kind jewelry collection.
One smoggy day - The Great Wall Hotel on the right hosted Ronald Reagan's visit to China
One smoggy day - The Great Wall Hotel on the right hosted Ronald Reagan's visit to China		 Even the stairs in residential area are used for marketing purpose
Even the stairs in residential area are used for marketing purpose		 Tianjin railroad station at night
Tianjin railroad station at night

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