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 post Arriving in Erenhot - the border post

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