Beijing (北京), China (中国)

   [ 6 - 11 August, 2008 / 60 images ]

Our home for the next five nights in Beijing -- Si He Hotel (北京四合宾馆) in a hutong Our home for the next five nights in Beijing -- Si He Hotel (北京四合宾馆) in a hutong
Cool bed huh? Cool bed huh?
Kinda traditional (umm, A/C and free wi-fi)... Kinda traditional (umm, A/C and free wi-fi)...
...with modern facilities! Thank God... ...with modern facilities! Thank God...
Entryway to our room Entryway to our room
The courtyard! The courtyard!
The sun struggling through the clouds on this very hot, hazy and humid day The sun struggling through the clouds on this very hot, hazy and humid day
A beautiful courtyard house in our hutong A beautiful courtyard house in our hutong
Our hutong! Narrow alleys... Our hutong! Narrow alleys...
We're here! Olympic Beijing We're here! Olympic Beijing
We spotted a torch relay decal on our first day there We spotted a torch relay decal on our first day there
National Centre for the Performing Arts aka “The Egg” National Centre for the Performing Arts aka “The Egg”
The new CCTV Headquarters looking less-than-spectacular in the, um, “haze” The new CCTV Headquarters looking less-than-spectacular in the, um, “haze”
Sanlitun Village with great shopping Sanlitun Village with great shopping
Trendy Nanluoguxiang Hutong Trendy Nanluoguxiang Hutong
Beijing's Smallest Bar! Beijing's Smallest Bar!
Crowds around Tiananmen Square on the 08-08-08 Crowds around Tiananmen Square on the 08-08-08
One World, One Dream... One World, One Dream...
Crazy laowai, LOL Crazy laowai, LOL
Qian Men, south of Tiananmen Square Qian Men, south of Tiananmen Square
3h 28m 20s to go before the Opening Ceremonies! 3h 28m 20s to go before the Opening Ceremonies!
Um, I don't think those are fireworks... Um, I don't think those are fireworks...
Tiananmen (天安门) -- the Gate of Heavenly Peace Tiananmen (天安门) -- the Gate of Heavenly Peace
Watching the Opening Ceremonies at Shanba Watching the Opening Ceremonies at Shanba
Oriental Plaza near Tiananmen Square Oriental Plaza near Tiananmen Square
The “Great Wall” :-) The “Great Wall” :-)
New friends at Tim's Texas BBQ New friends at Tim's Texas BBQ
Tania-licious! Tania-licious!
Tania, Me, Alex and Peter @ Tim's Texas BBQ Tania, Me, Alex and Peter @ Tim's Texas BBQ
Zhong guo! Zhong guo!
Happy jump in front of Tiananmen Happy jump in front of Tiananmen
The monumental Tiananmen built 588 years ago The monumental Tiananmen built 588 years ago
Chairman Mao's soldiers Chairman Mao's soldiers
The Bird's Nest in Tiananmen Square The Bird's Nest in Tiananmen Square
Beautiful public displays in the square Beautiful public displays in the square
One World, One Dream (同一个世界, 同一个梦想) One World, One Dream (同一个世界, 同一个梦想)
Celebration billboards in Tiananmen Square Celebration billboards in Tiananmen Square
We. Are. Here! We. Are. Here!
Awww, so cute Awww, so cute
Beautiful Chinese knots Beautiful Chinese knots
Zhong Guo, Jia You! (中国, 加油!) Zhong Guo, Jia You! (中国, 加油!)
The red and yellow of Communist China looks down on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games The red and yellow of Communist China looks down on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Awesome fountains in front of Tiananmen Awesome fountains in front of Tiananmen
Another happy jump! Another happy jump!
Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Square
Chairman Mao's Mausoleum Chairman Mao's Mausoleum
The Gate of Heavenly Peace The Gate of Heavenly Peace
Chairman Mao guards the entrance that leads to the Forbidden City Chairman Mao guards the entrance that leads to the Forbidden City
Beautiful pagoda in Zhongshan Park Beautiful pagoda in Zhongshan Park
It's SO much quieter in here than in the Forbidden City It's SO much quieter in here than in the Forbidden City
Dragons, rar! Dragons, rar!
Rock sculpture Rock sculpture
The Meridian Gate (午门) -- *This* is the entrance to the Forbidden City The Meridian Gate (午门) -- *This* is the entrance to the Forbidden City
The backside of Tiananmen The backside of Tiananmen
The Beijing 2008 logo on Tiananmen Square The Beijing 2008 logo on Tiananmen Square
Beijing Capital Int'l Airport's brand new Terminal 3 Beijing Capital Int'l Airport's brand new Terminal 3
It's GI-NOR-MOUS It's GI-NOR-MOUS
The ceilings shimmer in bold and prosperous red The ceilings shimmer in bold and prosperous red
Immense Immense
Soaring red pillars Soaring red pillars