Hall of Clocks

The Hall of Clocks is full of clocks that were gifts to the Emperors of China. Mostly from England and France and the odd one from China, they are works of art more than timepieces.

Street Musicians

Doors

Courtyard 7 Hotel

Located in one of Beijing’s hutongs (alleyways), this hotel was more like a concubine’s palace than accommodation for weary wanderers like us.

Temple of Heaven Park

Subway Dog

Drum and Bell

The Bell Tower and the Drum Tower loom over Beijing’s hutongs as timepieces that marked the events of the day.

The Great Wall

The Great irony of the wall is that it is a monument to failure--failure to keep out the Mongols and other invaders. It is also a testament of Chinese isolationism. Yet it is celebrated as China’s great achievement. Crumbling apart and infested with more impoverished peasant vendors who outnumber the tourists who just came for a quick walk through China’s past.

In the Pines

Thanks for Coming!