I found this ancient city surprisingly modern in it’s architecture, transportation systems, and dual signage in English. Here we are at the Bird’s Nest, but all over Beijing we spotted futuristic shapes. As you can see from the photos, the smog is terrible. It dulls the sky, scratches your throat and eyes, and smells vaguely of smoke. In the Olympic Village, it seems especially cruel and sad – a sharp contrast to the arenas built for the best athletes in…
The Great Wall is absolutely stunning. It stretches far into the horizon, zigzagging from peak to peak. The structure is simple and elegant. It was designed to be impressive, making the inhabitants feel protected and potential intruders intimidated. While the view of the surrounding mountains is picturesque, it also struck me as a little lonely at the top. Perhaps this is because we had just come from the crowds of Beijing and this section of wall was shockingly, and thankfully,…
The Forbidden City encompasses nearly 1,000 beautiful red buildings with intricately painted ceilings and wing tipped gold roofs. Dragons and lions stand guard. The vast complex of symmetrical edifices, courtyards and pathways, reminds me of a college campus. While the Imperial Palace emphasizes long, low horizontal lines, the Summer Palace celebrates with towering temples, designed organically around the lake and a steep rocky hillside. I’d prefer to live in the trees at the Summer Palace. Summer in Beijing is hot, muggy…