Posts under ‘Places’

“Jianghu” is one of the most vague and complicated terms in modern Chinese. It’s an imaginary world in which the chivalry swordsmen fight evil and protect the weak. It’s where life is always sacrificed for the ultimate causes. It’s a state of mind, a fantasy, a story of romance…
Sometimes “Jianghu” is also simple to [...]

A huge stone turtle carrying a huge stone tablet, on which records of important events of the empires are carved. Most of these history-changing events are suppression of riots or winning of wars.

Look closely, the graffitti on the tablet says “the great unity of revolution”. It must has been written on it during the Cultural [...]

Beijing Confucius Temple quietly sits on Guozijian Street, where used to be the finest higher education institution in Ming and Qing Dynasty.

The entrance.

Immediately after stepping into the temple, you’ll find a row of stone tablets standing on the right side of the gate. Names of those who passed the national level exams in ancient times [...]

Beijing Songtang Museum is China’s first traditional residential architecture museum. Started from almost half a century ago, Mr. Li Songtang, a reputed collector, has been collecting and preserving pieces and components of traditional architecture from all over the country. His collections can definitely make him one of the richest men in Beijing, but he never [...]

Cheng Xian (meaning “becoming a virtuous man”) Street, also called Guozijian Street, has a history of over 700 years. Entrance to the street is located on the east side of Bei Xinqiao Street, opposite to Lama Temple. Guozijian, now NO.15 on Cheng Xian Street, used to be the highest educational institution in Yuan, Ming, and [...]

The 2008 Xiangshan Red Leaves Festival officially started today. Time to leave the stress, routines, and pollution behind and breathe some fresh and sweet air at Fragrant Hills.
The name of the hills was not derived from the aroma around the area as you may have imagined, but rather the shape of the hills. Looking at [...]

Daily visitors at the Olympic Green, in which Bird’s Nest and Water Cube are located, exceeded 200,000 during the 7 day “golden week”.
Standing under the Bird’s Nest gave me a feeling of tightness and pressure.
The Water Cube.
Boy can’t hold it. Too much Cocacola.
Interesting poses:

People were really having a good time.

Sculptures inside a shopping mall. Note the first 3 athletes are all Chinese.
Inside a night bus. Bus clerk wearing the armband is now one of the security volunteers.
Student volunteers crossing street.
A Golden Retriever peeking outside of the car window.
Dozing in a bus.
Kids playing with their grandma at the entrance of a residential building.
The elderly of [...]

Wondering in the Hutongs.
A craftsman showing off his works of “Hairy Monkeys”, a traditional craftsmanship. Cicada legs and Magnolia are being glued together to make miniatures of monkeys, which play different roles in a series of stories.
Kids playing with a bronze basin (don’t remember what it’s called in Chinese), when rubbing the sides of the [...]

South Luogu Lane, where fantasitc bars and shops gather, is another hot spot with rich Hutong culture.
Girls posing in front of the gate of the lane.
A cafe shop.
The famous Pass By Bar. The owner’s fantastic photographic works of Tibet on the wall.
A small shop selling traditional Beijing paper-cuts.
A dress shop.
A gift shop.
A dress shop selling [...]