Images - China - North & Beijing

Osprey fisherman in Tongli, near Shanghai Osprey fisherman in Tongli, near Shanghai Magnolia flowering in a grand courtyard, Tongli Magnolia flowering in a grand courtyard, Tongli Spring blossoms... Spring blossoms... ...are everywhere, though it doesn't feel like spring! ...are everywhere, though it doesn't feel like spring! Chinese symmetry Chinese symmetry Inside a former mansion Inside a former mansion Grey skies, Tongli Grey skies, Tongli Steaming bowtzen Steaming bowtzen Doesn't look good for our fuel injector... Doesn't look good for our fuel injector... ...luckily, only 6km to a trusty local garage ...luckily, only 6km to a trusty local garage Ornate roof at the Confucius Temple, Qufu Ornate roof at the Confucius Temple, Qufu Ceremonial gates Ceremonial gates Peaceful courtyards in the temple complex Peaceful courtyards in the temple complex Stone 'stellae' from Ming emperors honouring Confucius Stone 'stellae' from Ming emperors honouring Confucius Blue skies at last! Blue skies at last! A colourful Chinese dragon A colourful Chinese dragon Devotees burning incense at the Confucius Temple Devotees burning incense at the Confucius Temple Intricate, nail-less ceiling timbers Intricate, nail-less ceiling timbers Looking down on Tai'an from the world's most climbed mountain Looking down on Tai'an from the world's most climbed mountain Inscriptions in a Dao temple Inscriptions in a Dao temple Practising Mandarin Practising Mandarin Looks pretty, shame about the souvenir stalls Looks pretty, shame about the souvenir stalls Lucky charms in a Dao temple Lucky charms in a Dao temple Tai'an by night Tai'an by night Breakfast on the go Breakfast on the go Greenhouses on the road to Beijing - all face south Greenhouses on the road to Beijing - all face south Entering the outskirts of Beijing Entering the outskirts of Beijing The biggest toll gantry in the world? The biggest toll gantry in the world? Central Beijing Central Beijing Old jobs still done in the old ways Old jobs still done in the old ways Beijingers enjoying the weekend sunshine (1st in 6 months) Beijingers enjoying the weekend sunshine (1st in 6 months) Chatting with Vivi over lunch Chatting with Vivi over lunch Crowds around the Birds Nest Crowds around the Birds Nest Really? Chinese poetic licence gone too far this time... Really? Chinese poetic licence gone too far this time... Saturday night in Beijing Saturday night in Beijing Mao's portrait in Tiananmen Square Mao's portrait in Tiananmen Square Driving through a very wet Tiananmen Square Driving through a very wet Tiananmen Square Nina's captured a minature Chinese soldier Nina's captured a minature Chinese soldier The Gate of Heavenly Peace The Gate of Heavenly Peace Relaxing in The Forbidden City Relaxing in The Forbidden City This is a first... This is a first... Watching paint dry Watching paint dry Open corridors in The Forbidden City Open corridors in The Forbidden City Doorway, The Forbidden City Doorway, The Forbidden City Minature pagoda Minature pagoda Alleyways in a hutong Alleyways in a hutong Tenacious grass clinging to life in a hutong Tenacious grass clinging to life in a hutong Excellent hangover cure lunch Excellent hangover cure lunch Chefs having a break Chefs having a break Beijing - the old and new Beijing - the old and new Baisha Lake Baisha Lake Pavement artist at work Pavement artist at work The Sunday band - enthusiasts in Baisha Park The Sunday band - enthusiasts in Baisha Park Practising martial arts in Baisha Park... Practising martial arts in Baisha Park... ...here and there, traditions are alive and well ...here and there, traditions are alive and well The Nine Dragon Screen The Nine Dragon Screen Beijing by night Beijing by night That bloody Chinese fog! That bloody Chinese fog! Security guard patrolling The Great Wall Security guard patrolling The Great Wall Having a breather Having a breather Finally - a clearer day... Finally - a clearer day... ...makes the effort worthwhile ...makes the effort worthwhile Happier now we can see something! Happier now we can see something! The swift way down from the Wall The swift way down from the Wall Village in Shanxi. The bleakest place in the world to live? Maybe. Village in Shanxi. The bleakest place in the world to live? Maybe. Sunset behind a polluted sky Sunset behind a polluted sky Fruit market in Datong Fruit market in Datong The Yungan Grottoes The Yungan Grottoes Coal workers in Shanxi Province Coal workers in Shanxi Province Coal country Coal country The desert highway The desert highway Tough old desert ponies Tough old desert ponies Arriving in Erenhot - the border postArriving in Erenhot - the border post