China

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China Destination Unknown
The Lone Photographer
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Although it looked sort of crowded when we first stepped into the courtyard, it actually didn't feel so busy at all. I think that it was just that a lot of people got bottlenecked at the gate entrance.
That woman in front of the palace was in our tour group. Like me, she was doing a lot of photography. I had thought that would have given us something in common and we could have compared shots and helped each other but she didn't seem interested at all. She never showed me a single one of her pictures. I thought that was strange. Most of the photographers that I meet are very friendly people. I guess that there is always an exception though.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
The Guardian
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Chinese or Imperial guardian lions are a traditional Chinese architectural ornament. Typically made of stone, they are also known as stone lions or shishi.
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China Destination Unknown
A Look Back
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Here's a look back at the gate that we passed through. I'm not only amazed by the size of the buildings and the courtyard but also by how clean everything is here. I don't see anything at all on the ground. I'm very impressed by how clean things are kept here. That group of people standing in the foreground is our tour group. I'm making an effort not to stray too far from everyone else.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
The Big Picture
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Here's a very wide panoramic view of the Forbidden City. I took this shot to show just how big and open this place really is. I don't think that I really succeeded though. The Forbidden City felt so much bigger than it looks in this picture.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Going Up
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Everything here is so elaborate and ornate! This is the handrail of a short staircase and yet it's still so decorated. It's amazing that all of these things are handmade! People were such talented craftsmen long ago. What happened to that knowledge? Why aren't we like that anymore?Read more
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China Destination Unknown
The Imperial Palace
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
I think that a slightly elevated viewpoint gives me a better view of the Imperial Palace. From here, it looks a lot more crowded. It's always a good idea to try getting your shot from a variety of perspectives. You can never tell, until afterwards, which shots will be the keepers.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Approaching the Palace
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
I'm on the path leading up to the palace in the Forbidden City. Right now, I feel like I'm stepping back into history. I how many emperors of ancient China walked this same path that I am on now? The idea that I am actually here is still so amazing to me!Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Little Details
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 32 °F
I feel like I'm the only one who's noticing all of the little details like this dragon head carving. I can't believe that everyone is just walking on by without seeing these things. As for me, I'm determined to take in everything here!Read more
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China Destination Unknown
A Great View
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
I'm glad that there are places here to climb up and get an elevated view. Sometimes a different perspective can change the whole look of a place. I'm glad that I can get so many different sorts of perspectives here.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
May I Enter?
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
We're approaching the Imperial Palace now. I'd love to go inside and take a look around but I'm not sure if that's allowed. Even if I can't actually enter the palace, I'm still feeling very happy, and lucky, just to be here.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Approaching the Palace
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
It's such an amazing feeling to be walking in such a historical place! I wonder how many of the other people in our tour group are feeling the same way I am? A lot of them look sort of interested but not really in awe, like I am. I think that it's very sad that they can't really appreciate the wonder of the Forbidden City.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
A Peek Inside
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
People aren't allowed inside the Imperial Palace, which doesn't surprise me at all. Actually, I'd be shocked if they were letting people wander around in there. The doors were open, giving everyone a look inside the palace. I was happy with that. It's even more than I had expected because I thought that everything was going to be behind glass.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Colorful Details
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
These details look very similar to what I've seen at the China Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase at Walt Disney World. All of the architecture in Epcot is just an imitation though. This is the real thing!Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Rooftops
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
I've always loved this sort of classic Chinese architecture. It's so much nicer than the boxy looking buildings that we have back home. I wonder what it would be like to live in a building like this?
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China Destination Unknown
On the Roof
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
Here's a closer look at the rooftops of the Imperial Palace. Not only is the architecture amazing but I really like the carvings scattered over the roof. They look to be mostly dragons but I'm going to see what else I can find up there.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Roof Charms
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
These Chinese imperial roof decorations, often called roof charms, roof-figures or crouching beasts, are statuettes placed along the ridge line of official buildings of the Chinese empire. Only official buildings (palaces, government buildings, and some temples) were permitted to use such roof decorations. Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Rooptop Details
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
The roof shape of the Forbidden City's most important buildings had special significance. Double-eve hip roofs were the classiest roofs in the empire, reserved for only the top imperial buildings.
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China Destination Unknown
A Splash of Color
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
Except for red and yellow most of the Forbidden City may seem drab but, if you look around, you can actually find a lot of color, much of it very bright and vibrant. This is some of the trimmings around the doorways of the official buildings.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Symmetry
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
I've seen so much of the Forbidden City and I'm still mesmerized by the attention to detail and symmetry that went into building this palace. It's a shame that, at the time it was built, it was only for the emperor and his family. A place this wonderful should be appreciated by everyone!Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Feeling Brassy
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
As breathtaking as all the elaborate buildings in Beijing's Forbidden City are, don't forget to look around and appreciate the little details that are everywhere you look. This brass pot, for instance, would be at home in any museum. I'm happy to see it left out for everyone to enjoy, rather than being kept behind glass.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Forbidden City Facts
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
The Forbidden City took only 14 years to build (from 1406 to 1420). It was built by over 1,000,000 workers, including more than 100,000 craftsmen.
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China Destination Unknown
Bronze Lions
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 64 °F
The entrance to the Hall of Supreme Harmony is flanked by two bronze lions sitting on blocks of white marble. They are the guardians of the main Hall. A male lion is on the right side, with a female on the left. The male holds a globe under his right forepaw, symbolizing Imperial rule that unifies the world. The female is playing with a cub with her left forepaw, symbolizing abundant offspring for the emperor.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Seeing It All
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 66 °F
Everyone in our tour group, including me, is busy taking pictures and trying to look everywhere at once. We all look amazed by what we're seeing! Such tourists! Hahaha!!
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China Destination Unknown
Patterns
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 66 °F
Always take the time to really look at the things around you. I was the only person in the Forbidden City who stopped and took pictures of these windows. Everyone else just walked on by, not really even seeing it. Although, while shooting, the scene may seem plain and uninteresting, it turned out to be a good study of patterns, depth and color. I'm happy with the final photo.Read more
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China Destination Unknown
Imperial Dragons
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ 66 °F
Due to its cultural significance and unique beauty, the Forbidden City is extremely popular with both Chinese and foreign tourists. The palace museum boasts 14 million visitors annually, more than any single section of the Great Wall.Read more
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