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Tokyo & Beijing 2013

This is the third time I’ve done this 2 week business trip to the Far East now and I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a few days of downtime in the middle of it in a different city each time. This year the weekend was in Beijing so I fulfilled a long-held ambition by taking the opportunity to jump in a car to go and see the Great Wall of China on the Saturday before also having a good look round the Forbidden City the following day. Before I got there I also had time to take a walk round a couple of the parks in Tokyo. However this year’s visits to Taipei and Hong Kong were very much whistle stop and sadly my camera had to stay in my bag on this occasion.
The new Palace Hotel in Tokyo - Home for 3 days
The new Palace Hotel in Tokyo - Home for 3 days		 View from my balcony
View from my balcony		 Wadakura Fountain Park
Wadakura Fountain Park		 Interesting designs
Interesting designs
Fountains & Sculpture
Fountains & Sculpture		 I loved the shape of this tree
I loved the shape of this tree		 Reflections in the Palace Moat
Reflections in the Palace Moat		 Hibiya Park
Hibiya Park
Sunbathing
Sunbathing		 Statue
Statue		 These shrimp were still swimming about 30 seconds previously
These shrimp were still swimming about 30 seconds previously		 I'm on the Great Wall of China!
I'm on the Great Wall of China!
My legs will know about this in the morning!
My legs will know about this in the morning!		 Turret with lightning conductors on the roof
Turret with lightning conductors on the roof		 Wall stretching as far as the eye can see
Wall stretching as far as the eye can see		 Through the arched window 1
Through the arched window 1
Through the arched window 2
Through the arched window 2		 There's a turret every 200 metres or so
There's a turret every 200 metres or so		 The mortar is made from sticky rice & egg whites
The mortar is made from sticky rice & egg whites		 This is as far as I could go
This is as far as I could go
This repaired section is only 1.5 miles long
This repaired section is only 1.5 miles long		 But the whole thing stretches for nearly 4,000 miles!
But the whole thing stretches for nearly 4,000 miles!		 Heading back downhill
Heading back downhill		 Another turret
Another turret
Turret interior
Turret interior		 They don't seem to have had spirit levels
They don't seem to have had spirit levels		 It wasn't exactly crowded
It wasn't exactly crowded		 Looking through the fortifications
Looking through the fortifications
Scarily steep heading downhill
Scarily steep heading downhill		 Fantastic scenery all around
Fantastic scenery all around		 A final uphill climb
A final uphill climb		 Tobogganing back to the carpark
Tobogganing back to the carpark
6 phases of creating these glased vases
6 phases of creating these glased vases		 The base is copper
The base is copper		 Pattern created with copper wire
Pattern created with copper wire		 Powdered stone of various colours fills in the gaps
Powdered stone of various colours fills in the gaps
Work in progress
Work in progress		 Almost finished
Almost finished		 I may have just been tempted into buying this for myself
I may have just been tempted into buying this for myself		 Untidy tiling
Untidy tiling
The Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium
The "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium		 Communist Workers statue
Communist Workers statue		 No photo!
"No photo!"		 Comic cops
Comic cops
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square		 Not sure what this says but the screen was imense
Not sure what this says but the screen was imense		 Gigantic floral arrangement
Gigantic floral arrangement		 Robocop
Robocop
This is where all the dignitaries stand for the May Day parade
This is where all the dignitaries stand for the May Day parade 		Photo opportunity
Photo opportunity		 Ancient marble lion
Ancient marble lion		 The Wumen Gate - Entrance to the Forbidden City
The Wumen Gate - Entrance to the Forbidden City
Taihe Gate
Taihe Gate		 Marble pillars
Marble pillars		 Bronze lion
Bronze lion		 Taihe Hall
Taihe Hall
Another of the gigantic halls
Another of the gigantic halls		 Huge marble mural
Huge marble mural		 Well polished due to people constantly rubbing them
Well polished due to people constantly rubbing them		 Marble terracing
Marble terracing
Intricately tiled roofs
Intricately tiled roofs		 Female golden lion
Female golden lion		 With the accompanying male
With the accompanying male		 This bronze kettle is 2,400 years old
This bronze kettle is 2,400 years old
And this wine jug is more than 3,000
And this wine jug is more than 3,000		 Roof detail
Roof detail

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