2009 China

Photo Journal of my visit to China in 2009. It includes images of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, the Yangzi river with its stunning Gorges, the Three Gorges Dam, the total solar eclipse in Hángzhou and the Shanghai skyline.
On guard in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace or Tiananmen gate, Beijing. : China, People The "gate of heavenly peace" or Tiananmen gate, Beijing. : China One of the guards in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace or Tiananmen gate, Beijing. : China, People Splendid colors in Zhongshan park, Beijing. : China Zhongshan park, Beijing. : China
Qianmen (front gate) to Beijing (formally known as Zhengyangmen). It stands on the Southern end of Tiananmen square. : China Have the aliens landed? No, it's the National Grand Theatre in Beijing. : China The spectacular titanium and glass National grand theatre, Beijing. : China The titanium and glass National grand theatre, Beijing. : China The Meridian gate to the forbidden city, Beijing. : China
The Meridian gate to the forbidden city, Beijing. : China Forbidden city, Bejing. : China Gate of supreme harmony, forbidden city, Beijing. : China Splendid detail of the supreme harmony gate, forbidden city, Beijing. : China The imposing hall of supreme harmony, forbidden city, Beijing. : China
Northwest side of supreme harmony gate, forbidden city, Beijing. : China The largest structure of the forbidden city: the hall of supreme harmony. : China The largest structure of the forbidden city: the hall of supreme harmony. : China The Northside of Meridian gate, forbidden city, Beijing. : China The imposing hall of supreme harmony, forbidden city, Beijing. : China
Imperial dragon walkway in the forbidden city, Beijing. : China Detail of a bronze vat. These vats can be found all over the forbidden city and they once contained water for fire-fighting purposes. : China Detail of the famous Nine Dragon Screen. This wall of 270 glazed tiles is facing the Gate of Imperial Supremacy. This dragon (third from the left) has one slightly darker tile. Legend has it that the day before Emperor QianLong's inspection, this tile fell down and broke into pieces. Because there was very little time left, and everyone would be beheaded if the wall was not perfect, the tile was quickly replaced overnight by a similar wooden tile. Fortunately, the emperor did not discover the discrepancy and the lives of all the craftsmen were saved. : China Where's the camera? : China, People Bronze lion guarding the inner palace of the forbidden city. : China
Bronze lion guarding the inner palace of the forbidden city. Following tradition, the male lion guards the right side of the doorway, standing on a ball to symbolize the unity of heaven and earth, while the female lion stands on a cub to represent the cycle of life. : China Hall of Imperial Supremacy, forbidden city, Beijing. : China Hall of Imperial Supremacy, forbidden city, Beijing. : China Neverending renovations in the forbidden city. : China, People Pavillion of Imperial Scenery on top of the Hill of Accumulated Elegance. This 10m high artificial hill stands in the imperial garden of the forbidden city. : China
Detail of a kneeling bronze elephant in the imperial garden. : China Dragon statue in the forbidden city. : China Dragon statue in the forbidden city. : China Detail of a bronze vat. These vats can be found all over the forbidden city and they once contained water for fire-fighting purposes. : China The forbidden city. : China
Bronze lion guarding the inner palace of the forbidden city. : China The forbidden city. : China The forbidden city. : China The forbidden city. : China The forbidden city. : China
The forbidden city. : China Bronze lion guarding the the forbidden city. Following tradition, the male lion guards the right side of the doorway, standing on a ball to symbolize the unity of heaven and earth, while the female lion (on the left side of the doorway) stands on a cub to represent the cycle of life. : China Bronze lion guarding in the forbidden city. : China The Meridian gate to the forbidden city, Beijing. : China Stone column with depiction of dragons and phoenixes decorates the surroundings of the Tiananmen gate, Beijing. : China
Lion guarding the Meridian gate to the forbidden city. : China Beijing Confucian temple. : China Beijing Confucian temple. : China Beijing Confucian temple. : China Beijing Confucian temple. : China
Beijing streetlife. : China Traditional Chinese transportation. : China Copper cooking vessel made in 1747 during the Qing Dynasty. : China Incense burning and praying at the Yonghe temple. : China Praying wheel in the Yonghegong or Lama temple in Beijing. : China
Incense burning in the Yonghegong or Lama temple in Beijing. : China The Yonghegong or Lama temple in Beijing. : China Yonghegong or Lama temple in Beijing. : China Yonghegong or Lama temple in Beijing. : China Burning large amounts of incense at the Lama temple in Beijing. : China, People
Incense. : China The Lama temple in Beijing. : China The Lama temple in Beijing. : China Construction in Beijing. : China, People Made in China. : China
Neatly aligned tricycle taxis. : China The Drum tower seen from the Bell tower. These two towers were used for indicating time as early as 206 BC. : China Beijing's Bell tower. : China Jingshan park, Beijing. : China Photography frenzy at sunset. : China, People
View from the Everlasting Spring pavilion atop Prospect hill in Jingshan park. On the left the Beihai White Dagoba, a 17th Century Buddhist Shrine. : China View from the Everlasting Spring pavilion atop Prospect hill in Jingshan park. : China, Sunset View from the Everlasting Spring pavilion atop Prospect hill in Jingshan park. : China, Sunset The Beihai White Dagoba, a 17th Century Buddhist Shrine. : China, Sunset The Northern gate or Gate of Divine Might to the Forbidden City. : China
The Forbidden city seen from the Everlasting Spring pavilion atop Prospect hill in Jingshan park. : China, Sunset Lotus flower, Beijing, China. : China, Flowers, Nature Lotus flower, Beijing, China. : China, Flowers, Nature Lotus flower, Beijing, China. : China, Flowers, Nature Lotus flower, Beijing, China. : China, Flowers, Nature
Yu Quan Hill with Yu Feng Pagoda. : China View over Kunming Lake towards Yu Quan Hill with Yu Feng Pagoda. : China The Imperial Summer palace. : China Fishing in Kunming lake. : China, People One of the numerous beautiful bridges in the Imperial Summer Palace Northwest of Beijing. : China
One of the numerous beautiful bridges in the Imperial Summer Palace Northwest of Beijing. : China Detail of one of the numerous beautiful bridges in the Imperial Summer Palace Northwest of Beijing. : China Cixi's immobile marble boat on the shore of Kunming lake. : China The marble boat and the Buddhist Fragrance Pavillion. : China Kunming lake. : China, Nature
View over Kunming Lake towards Yu Quan Hill with Yu Feng Pagoda. : China The Buddhist Fragrance Pavillion and the Temple of the Sea of Wisdom on the shore of Kunming lake. : China, Sunset The Buddhist Fragrance Pavillion in the setting sun. : China, Sunset The Temple of the Sea of Wisdom in the setting sun. : China, Sunset The Buddhist Fragrance Pavillion on the left and the Temple of the Sea of Wisdom on the right. : China, Sunset
Serenity on the shore of Kunming lake. : China, Sunset Kungfu training in the setting sun, Kunming lake. : China, People, Sunset Kungfu training in the setting sun, Kunming lake. : China, People, Sunset Kungfu training in the setting sun, Kunming lake. : China, People, Sunset Kungfu training in the setting sun, Kunming lake. : China, People, Sunset
Life is hard in Mutianyu. : China, People Mutianyu, 90 km Northeast of Beijing. : China, People The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China
The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China, People The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China
The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China, Panorama Tropical rainstorm hitting Mutianyu village. : China Tropical rainstorm hitting Mutianyu village. : China, People Adverse weather conditions in Mutianyu village. : China, People Tropical rainstorm hitting Mutianyu village. : China, People
Mutianyu village. : China, People Mutianyu village. : China, People Mutianyu village. : China, People Mutianyu village. : Animals, China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China
The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China, People The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China, People The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China
The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Wall at Mutianyu. : China The Great Mosque's garden, Xi'an. : China The Great Mosque's garden, Xi'an. : China The Great Mosque's garden, Xi'an. : China
The Great Mosque's garden, Xi'an. : China The Great Mosque's garden, Xi'an. : China The Great Mosque's garden, Xi'an, China. : China, Flowers, Nature The Great Mosque's garden, Xi'an, China. : China, Flowers, Nature The Great Mosque's garden, Xi'an, China. : China, Flowers, Nature
Xi'an's Bell Tower. : China Who said directing traffic in Xi'an was easy? : China, People Who said directing traffic in Xi'an was easy? : China, People Who said directing traffic in Xi'an was easy? : China, People Xi'an. : China, People
Xi'an. : China Live performer in a Xi'an pub. : China, People Live performer in a Xi'an pub. : China, People The Terracotta Army (pit 3) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 3) in Xi'an. : China
The Terracotta Army (pit 3) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China
The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China
The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China The Terracotta Army (pit 1) in Xi'an. : China
View from the Bell Tower in Xi'an. : China Chaotic Chinese traffic in Xi'an. : China Performance in the Bell Tower of Xi'an. : China, People Drums in Xi'an's Drum Tower. : China Drums in Xi'an's Drum Tower. : China
The Muslim quarter of Xi'an. : China, People The Muslim quarter of Xi'an. : China, People The Muslim quarter of Xi'an. : China, People The Muslim quarter of Xi'an. : China The Muslim quarter of Xi'an. : China
The Muslim quarter of Xi'an. : China, People The Muslim quarter of Xi'an. : China Looks appetising? The Muslim quarter of Xi'an. : China The Tomb of Emperor Jingdi near Xi'an. : China Old picture of the excavation of the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi. : China
Exhibition hall of the Han Yangling museum. : China The impressive underground Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (or Han Yangling museum) near Xi'an. So far the excavations have unearthed over 8000 naked, armless terracotta figures, of about 70-90 centimeters high. : China The impressive underground Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (or Han Yangling museum) near Xi'an. : China The impressive underground Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (or Han Yangling museum) near Xi'an. So far the excavations have unearthed over 8000 naked, armless terracotta figures, of about 70-90 centimeters high. : China The impressive underground Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (or Han Yangling museum) near Xi'an. So far the excavations have unearthed over 8000 naked, armless terracotta figures, of about 70-90 centimeters high. : China
The impressive underground Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (or Han Yangling museum) near Xi'an. : China Exhibition hall of the Han Yangling museum. : China Exhibition hall of the Han Yangling museum. : China Red Panda at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Red Panda at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China
Red Panda at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Soooooo tired. : Animals, China Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. : Animals, China Mobile shop in Chengdu. : China Flower shop in Chengdu. : China Chongqing city. : China Professional kiting amidst the skyscrapers of Chongqing city. : China
Yangzi river cruiseships. : China First stop on our Yangzi rivertrip: Ghost city. : China Weird statue in Ghost city along the Yangzi river. : China One of the somewhat disturbing images in Ghost city along the Yangzi river. : China First stop on our Yangzi rivertrip: Ghost city. : China
First stop on our Yangzi rivertrip: Ghost city. : China, People Yangzi river cruise. : China Yangzi river cruise. : China Yangzi river cruise. : China Yangzi river cruise. : China
Yangzi river cruise. : China And of course, there's gambling on the Yangzi river. : China, People Zhang Fei temple. : China First Gorge (Qutang or Kui Gorge). : China First Gorge (Qutang or Kui Gorge). : China
First Gorge (Qutang or Kui Gorge). : China First Gorge (Qutang or Kui Gorge). : China Yangzi river cruise. : China Yangzi river cruise. : China Yangzi river cruise. : China
Yangzi river cruise. : China Garbage collection on the Yangzi river. : China Garbage collection on the Yangzi river. : China Wushan. : China The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China
The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China, People The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China
The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China, People The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China The Little Three Gorges at Wushan. : China Cooking onboard our Yangzi river cruiseship. : China, People
Cooking onboard our Yangzi river cruiseship. : China, People Entering the second Gorge (Wu Gorge). : China Chenglish poetry. : Chenglish Signs, China, People The stunning second Gorge (Wu Gorge or the Gorge of Witches). : China, People The stunning second Gorge (Wu Gorge or the Gorge of Witches). : China
The stunning second Gorge (Wu Gorge or the Gorge of Witches). : China The stunning second Gorge (Wu Gorge or the Gorge of Witches). : China Paddling a dragon boat up the Jiu Wan stream. : China, People Paddling a dragon boat up the Jiu Wan stream. : China, People Paddling? a dragon boat up the Jiu Wan stream. : China, People
Jiu Wan stream. : China Jiu Wan stream. : China Hair raising acrobatics at Jiu Wan. : China, People Hair raising acrobatics at Jiu Wan. : China, People Hair raising acrobatics at Jiu Wan. : China, People
Jiu Wan. : China Final stop of our Yangzi river cruise at the Three Gorges Dam. : China No need for walking at the Three Gorges Dam. : China The Three Gorges Dam. : China The Three Gorges Dam. To get a sense of the enormous size of this dam, take a look at the car and the people in the foreground. : China
The Three Gorges Dam. : China The Three Gorges Dam. : China The Three Gorges Dam. : China Big gear at the Three Gorges Dam. : China Big gear at the Three Gorges Dam. : China
The Three Gorges Dam. : China, People Chang river in the Porcelain Mecca Jingdezhen by night. : China Let me see those hands... Evening exercise in Jingdezhen. : China, People Around Wùyuán: Little Likeng. : China Around Wùyuán: Little Likeng. : China
Around Wùyuán: Little Likeng. : China, People Around Wùyuán: Little Likeng. : China Around Wùyuán: Little Likeng. : China Around Wùyuán: Little Likeng. : China Around Wùyuán: Little Likeng. : China
Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China, People Around Wùyuán : China
Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China
Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China
Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Around Wùyuán : China Pictoresque countryside around Wùyuán. : China Pictoresque countryside around Wùyuán. : China
Pictoresque countryside around Wùyuán. : China Around Wùyuán: The Lying Dragon Gorge. : China Around Wùyuán: The Lying Dragon Gorge. : China Around Wùyuán: The Lying Dragon Gorge. : China Halo around the sun caused by tiny ice crystals in the atmosphere, around Wùyuán. : China
Beautiful caves around Wùyuán. : China Beautiful caves around Wùyuán. : China Beautiful caves around Wùyuán. : China Beautiful caves around Wùyuán. : China Around Wùyuán. : China
Around Wùyuán. : China Ricefields around Wùyuán. : China, People Ricefields around Wùyuán. : China, People Ricefields around Wùyuán. : China, People Ricefields around Wùyuán. : China, People
Ricefields around Wùyuán. : China Ricefields around Wùyuán. : China Qinghua near Wùyuán. : China, People Water wheel in Qinghua near Wùyuán. : China Tongji bridge in Sixi, near Wùyuán. : China
Tongji bridge in Sixi, near Wùyuán. : China Tongji bridge in Sixi, near Wùyuán. : China Sixi near Wùyuán. : China Sixi near Wùyuán. : China Sixi near Wùyuán. : China
So I wasn't the only one waiting for the sunset over West Lake in Hángzhou. : China, People Sunset over West Lake in Hángzhou. : China, Sunset Sunset over West Lake in Hángzhou. : China, Sunset Sunset over West Lake in Hángzhou. : China, Sunset Sunset over West Lake in Hángzhou. : China, Sunset
Hángzhou : China Lotus flower in West Lake, Hángzhou, China. : China, Flowers, Nature Lotus flower in West Lake, Hángzhou, China. : China, Flowers, Nature Details of the Leifeng Pagoda's ceiling, Hángzhou. : China Details of the Leifeng Pagoda's ceiling, Hángzhou. : China
Beautiful three-dimensional woodcarvings in Leifeng Pagoda in Hángzhou. : China Beautiful three-dimensional woodcarvings in Leifeng Pagoda in Hángzhou. : China Beautiful three-dimensional woodcarvings in Leifeng Pagoda in Hángzhou. : China Beautiful three-dimensional woodcarvings in Leifeng Pagoda in Hángzhou. : China Beautiful three-dimensional woodcarvings in Leifeng Pagoda in Hángzhou. : China
Beautiful three-dimensional woodcarvings in Leifeng Pagoda in Hángzhou. : China Beautiful three-dimensional woodcarvings in Leifeng Pagoda in Hángzhou. : China Fields of Lotus flowers in West Lake, Hángzhou, China. : China, Nature Obligatory family portrait at West Lake, Hángzhou. : China, People Chinese portrait at West Lake, Hángzhou. : China, People
Chinese portrait at West Lake, Hángzhou. : China, People Lotus flower in West Lake, Hángzhou, China. : China, Flowers, Nature Lotus flower in West Lake, Hángzhou, China. : China, Flowers, Nature Lotus flower in West Lake, Hángzhou, China. : China, Flowers, Nature Solar Eclipse July 22, 2009. Composition of 5 images with different exposures (8s, 4s, 2s, 1s, 0.5s) : China
Tropical thunderstorm shortly after the total solar eclipse, West Lake, Hángzhou. : China Shanghai skyline by night. : China Shanghai skyline by night. : China The 468 m high Oriental Pearl TV Tower in the Pudong district, Shanghai. : China The 468 m high Oriental Pearl TV Tower in the Pudong district, Shanghai. : China
View from the 468 m high Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai. : China View from the 468 m high Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai. : China View from the 468 m high Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai. : China The 88-storey (421 m) Jin Mao Tower in the Pudong financial district of Shanghai. : China The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC), Shanghai's tallest building (492 m). : China
The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC), Shanghai's tallest building (492 m). : China View from the so-called Sky Walk (100th floor, 474 m) of the Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai's tallest building (492 m). : China The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC), Shanghai's tallest building (492 m). : China The Jin Mao Tower (left) and the Shanghai World Financial Center (right). : China Shanghai skyline. : China
The Jin Mao Tower (left) and the Shanghai World Financial Center (right). : China Top of the Shanghai World Financial Center with a clear view of the 97th and the 100th floor Sky Walk. : China Shanghai's Maglev train to/from Pudong airport. This train reaches a whopping 430 km/h (270 mph)! : China