The Olympic City

The last photo!

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Vodkatrain away!!!!!!!!!

The drum tower from the top of the bell tower

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The Drum and bell towers were used to tell the time. The bell tower used in the day, and the drums at night. There is a legend that is told about the casting of the ancient bell. It is said that it took many years to cast the bell, because it was so large, and when each casting failed the emporer became more and more infuriated. At last he said that if the bell was not completed by a certain date he would sentence all the makers to death. The daughter of one of these foresaw that the final casting would fail, she also saw a vision, at the moment the bronze was at the perfect pouint, she cast herself into the bronze, and the old bronze smith, tried to stop her, but all he caught was her slipper, witholding his greif he cast the bell, and it finally succeeded. Now when the bell tolls, you can hear a faint whispering of the maiden, calling out for her slipper. - very romantic!

New yellow smarty

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Couldn't resist!

Hutong tour

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Me and Matt - from my new 'Roam China' group on the rickshaw that took us round the hutongs - camera then died after this photo.