The Summer Palace

I am uploading some pics I took at the Summer Palace here...before it snowed. Let's hope the wifi holds till I am done!

The entrance to the place. Don't let the small entrance fool you. The ground within was HUGE! In fact, everything in Beijing were big. The buildings there make our Midvalley Megamall look like a store room.

No matter where you go in Beijing, there will inevitably be always at least one young chinese guy in uniform standing guard at any entrances. Another way to ensure adequate employment I guess. Beijing has a population of 17 million people; and that is with the 'One Child Per Family Policy'!

The arch after passing through the entrance. A very impressive piece of ancient wood work!

Tall Weeping Willow trees were found in just about every corner of the place; in fact they were found just about anywhere in Beijing!

A distant view of the 'Seventeen Arch Bridge'. Definitely an architectural wonder.

One of the dragon boats anchored by the lake side to ferry tourists across the lake. We didn't have time to hop into one of them.

A distant misty view (not helped by my cold shivering hands and a not-so-canggih camera with only 11x zoom) of the Summer Palace atop a hill. All I want for Christmas is a digicam...

The 'Bronze Ox'. Read below for the story about it.

One of the pagodas fronting the start of the '17 arch Bridge'.

The intricate design inside the roof of the pagoda.

The story of the '17 arch Bridge'. Actually I am also reading it for the first time! The tour was such a whirl wind that we didn't really have time to read all the sign boards. So I just snapped them and read them later.

Another part of the bridge at a distance (7x zoom with my camera)

Yet another beautiful arch at the bridge.

One of the stone lions 'guarding' the bridge. They say you can tell whether it's a female or male by looking at it. For me, they are unisexual. Can't see any distinctive features... you know, like carved genitalia or something.

A lone man out on the lake. I wonder what he was trying to catch?

Me at the pagoda...about 30 minutes before it snowed!

No tourist spot will be complete without these stalls selling colourful souvenirs!

Bronze bells! I would have bought one but I know my wife would have killed me! I already have so many of these noisy stuff at home!

Beautiful cloissone bracelets. If I have time I will try and upload some photos of how they made things like these.

Beads and bracelets. My little girl would have squealed with delight had she been there!

Didn't buy any of the stuff. Wasn't really in the mood to bargain on the first day in Beijing!