April 18 - 21 2012, my spouse and I joined a group of 35 on an excursion to Beijing and Tianjin, China. I visited Beijing for the second time formerly in 2005. We enjoyed visiting interesting historical places, compulsory government economic centres, had our meals at halal Muslim restaurants and of course shopping at the local public market. It is spring time, the temperature is cold and soothing, misty in the morning and sometimes raining. Trees are leafless but blossoming gorgeously, soothed our eyes.
TIANJIN: Also known as Port of Heavenly Capital is the sixth largest city in China. Formerly a garrison town enclosed by walls, currently is one of the China's leading manufacturing and commercial centre.
BEIJING: The current capital city of China, with population exceeds 20 million, the second largest next to Shanghai. One of the four great ancient capitals of China, a political and cultural centre and the heart of China's history for centuries, renowned for its opulent palaces, mosques, temples and huge stone wall and gates
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
A series of fortifications made of stones, bricks, earth and woods. It stretches 8851 km along east to west border line to protect the Empire against the intrusion of nomadic forces from the north. First built by Qin Shi Huang between 220 - 206 BC merely of rammed earth and woods and rebuilt by the Ming Emperors in the 14th century with improved technique and materials such as stones and bricks. The visited part was the South Gate, near Beijing constructed during the Ming Dynasty.
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| Modified part of the Great Wall, especially for visitors, one of the fortresses in the background |
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| My spouse on one of the walls and the extent of the Great Wall in the background |
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| Special pose by the Great Wall |
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| Slowly ascending the sloping steps to the next station. |
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| Take a short rest after descending the sloping steps before terminating the visit. |
SUMMER PALACE:
Known as "The Garden of Nurtured Harmony" and it is a palace in Beijing dominated by Longevity Hill(60m) and the Kunming Lake. It covers an expanse of 2.9 sq. km, 2.2 sq km of which is lake. It is a man made lake and the excavated soil was used to build Longetivity Hill. The construction began in 1749 by Emperor Qianlong of The Qing Dynasty and completed in 1752.
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| At the main entrance |
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| Aerobic exercise, one of the activities at the Summer Palace, I love to join in as at home. |
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| Some of the group members in memory with the Muslim Chinese from Xinjiang |
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| Myself and our local Malay speaking tourist guide, Mr Terry. |
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| All women in, on the bridge over the Kunming lake connecting the Longevity Island |
TIENANMEN SQUARE
A large city square in the centre of Beijing. Named after the Tienanmen Gate, separating from the Forbidden City. It is the third largest in the world and measured 440,000 sq metre. Firstly built in 1415 during the Ming Dynasty. Due to heavy fighting the gate was damaged. Designed and built again in 1651 and has since enlarged four times its original size in 1950s.
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| Tienanmen Square in the background. The pagoda like building is a muoseleum lies the preserved body of Mao Zedong embedded in a glass cube |
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| Special pose, the main entrance to the Forbidden City in the background |
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| June 4 1989, at this very place, a thousand of pro democratic protesters mainly students were massacred by the armed military force. |
THE FORBIDDEN CITY
A Chinese Imperial Palace from Ming Dynasty and the end of Qing Dynasty. Located in the middle of Beijing and almost 500 years served as the home of Emperors. It took 15 years (1406 - 1420) of construction and required a million workers. It consists of 980 surviving buildings with 9999 bays of rooms. It covers 720,000 sq metre and in 1987 was declared World Heritage Site
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| Special pose in the midst of the Forbidden City |
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| In the heart of the imperial ancient palace, the floor is original. |
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| The Garden of Harmony, the rock is naturally carved |
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| Another part of the Garden of Harmony. |
Travelling by bullet train from Beijing to Tianjin was unforgettable. In only 30 minutes we reached Tianjin about 160 km away with a cruising speed of 250 km/hour.
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| At the Beijing railway station. Patiently wait for the schedule to Tianjing |
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| My spouse at the Tianjin railway station after arriving from Beijing |
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| Arrived in Tianjin about 160 km from Beijing in only 30 minutes! |
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| At the Food and Cultural Street, Tianjin |
There are differences between the four seasons area and the tropical area.
The cold and soothing temperature that we feel
and captivating blossoming trees that we witness.
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| At the Great Wall, trees with only stem and branches, few leaves begin to appear |
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| A flower tree with only trunk, branches and blossom. |
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| The close up Sakura |
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| Peony, some regard that it is a China's national flowerand some said cherry blossom |
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| An ancient dead tree stump preserved due to its uniqueness, historical and sentimental values |
Visiting Beijing in spring time is interesting and unforgettable. One could feel the soothing temperature and witness the unique surrounding that could not be felt and found in our tropical locality as well as ancient buildings and spots
(Xie Xie, zai jian)
Thank you and see you again
