Beijing, China: The Summer Palace

Visited the Summer Palace today - overdose of Chinese-ness. Saw the famed marble ship that couldn't really sail and then waited a long time for the bus (but it did come), rushed to the train station (East and West stations are very different, you can obtain a refund for an unused train ticket) and made it on the train back to Hangzhou just in time.

Bear?

Dragon and Phoenix

Modeled after the West Lake

I like the sheltered walkway most

This is not Hangzhou

Along a bridge

All different!

Bats in Mandarin sound like Fortune in Mandarin

Ice popsicle - you can't find it when you want it. When you don't want it, it's everywhere.

Safely on the train

180 degrees improvement from the train I took from SH to BJ

Hi Hangzhou, we meet again (for a brief while)!

Beijing, China: The Great Wall (Badaling) and Jingshan Park

It was easy (but quite long) to get to the Great Wall (Badaling) via public transport, and the views on the path less trodden, are just as awesome, sans the crowd. Lovely way to spend an afternoon even if you don't like to walk. Then head over to a small park (more popular with locals) for a view of the 'russet roofs of the forbidden palace' then witness the palace gates (near the Square) with minimal crowd (flag lowering ceremony).

Off the Wall

Jingshan Park ?

Friendly

Empty probably twice a day light

Longest escalator in Asia

Fave word at Uniqlo