China-A new life

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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The lake has a few small bridges, which are a nice place for photos in the morning light.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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The early morning walk along the HouHai lake was very relaxing.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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This was an interesting sign The title is in English: "Just so you know" but what i should know was in Chinese. So the only thing that I know was something I was not able to read..

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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A nice cycle rickshaw relaxing after a good nights rest.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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A broom for sweeping leaves waiting to be used again.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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A close up of a leaf broom that has seen much better days.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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Two younger brooms just starting out in life, waiting for the owners to show up for another day of long and short sweeps.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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Cycle rickshaws waiting to the start of another day of work transporting tourist here and there at exorbitant prices.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Bell Tower

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The Bell Tower is about a 10 min. walk from the Beijing Downtown Backpackers hostel. The bell tower is located on Di'anmen Outer Street, Dongcheng District of Beijing It was first built in the ninth year of Zhiyuan (1272 AD) as the central court of the Wan Ning Temple in the Yuan Dynasty, but was destroyed in the war. It was rebuilt in 1420 AD during the Ming Dynasty as a bell tower, but unfortunately it was destroyed again. It was reconstructed in Qianlong in the 10th year (1745 AD) of the Qing Dynasty and was finished two years later, having been built in a brick masonry structure to prevent a fire.A huge copper bell is hanging at the top of Beijing Bell Tower called "the King of Ancient Bells". The sound it makes is bright, mellow and powerful,

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Drum Tower

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The Drum Tower is also only about a 10 minute walk from the Beijing Downtown Backpackers hostel. The Drum Tower was built in 1272 during the reign of Kublai Khan, when it stood at eh very heart of the Yuan capital Dadu. At that time it was known as the Tower of Orderly Administration (Qizhenglou). In 1420, under the Ming Emperor Yongle, the building was reconstructed to the east of the original site and in 1800 under the Qing Emperor Jiaqing, large-scale renovations were carried out. In 1924, the name of the building was changed to the Tower of Realizing Shamefulness (Mingchilou) and objects related to the Eight-Power Allied Forces' invasion of Beijing and later the May 30th Massacre of 1925 were put on display. Nowadays, the upper story of the building serves as the People's Cultural Hall of the East City District.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Donghuamen Night Market

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A few travelers and myself set out to find the Donghuamen Night Market. We walked past it several times before we found it. It is located between Dong Hua Men Avenue and West of Wang Fu Jing. One can find a row of unusual food stalls. An array of Chinese food delicacies are on display with people bustling around to experience some new tastes. Items such as sheep's particular parts, offal soup, deep fried crickets, centipedes, silk worms, scorpions and lizards are available to eat on a stick. I ate at the McDonald's a couple blocks away.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Jingshan Park

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Looking north to the top of the hill of Jingshan Park, which in turn overlooks the Forbidden City. Jingshan Park is an imperial park covering 23 hectares (57 acres) immediately north of the Forbidden City in the Imperial City area of Beijing, China. There is a 2 RMB entrance fee to enter the park.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Jingshan Park

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The focal point is the artificial hill Jingshan, literally "Prospect Hill".[3] Formerly a private imperial garden attached to the grounds of the Forbidden City, the grounds were opened to the public in 1928. Jingshan's history dates to the Liao and Jin dynasties, almost a thousand years ago.[5] The 45.7-meter (150 ft) high artificial hill was constructed in the Yongle era of the Ming dynasty entirely from the soil excavated in forming the moats of the Imperial Palace and nearby canals.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Jingshan Park

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Looking down onto the northern entrance (Gate of Divine Might) of the Forbidden City from the top of Jingshan Park.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Jingshan Park

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Jingshan consists of five individual peaks, and on the top of each peak there lies an elaborate pavilion. These pavilions were used by officials for gathering and leisure purposes.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Jingshan Park

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The highest peaks pavilion also has a brass plaque showing it to be the geographical center of Beijing.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Jingshan Park

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The park is also well known to locals as Coal Hill, from an old rumor that the emperors kept a hidden stash in the park.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Jingshan Park

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The Chongzhen Emperor, the last ruler of the Ming dynasty, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Jingshan in 1644 after Beijing fell to Li Zicheng's rebel forces.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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This nice lady (Katie) I met at the Beijing Downtown Backpackers Hostel asked me to guide her to Jingshan Park on her last day in Beijing. We had a nice relaxing morning together.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017

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At the peak of Jingshan Park one can get your picture taken in traditional Chinese Forbidden City clothing.The park has four entrances, one in each of the cardinal directions. However when I was there in June 2017, the northern entrance was not open.

Beijing - Xian, China May 2017 - Beijing Beihai Park

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Beihai Park - Only a 5 RMB entry. Nice place for a relaxing walk.