Mutianyu Great Wall
distant Great Wall at Mutianyu
Hanging Monastery near Datong
The structure is more than 1400 years old. Note the need for siberian-style coats. Locals offer the coats for hire, and are in a good bargaining position.
figure with dragons inside Hanging Monastery
Apparently the Hanging Monastery has a mix of Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian traditions. I don't know where this particular piece fits in.
Lei, Felix and Lily, Hanging Monastery
Peter and Felix at the Wooden Pagoda, Datong
This pagoda was built in the 11th century and was constructed without any nails (just using clever joints)! Peter, from Germany, helped me greatly by translating things into English.
Felix and malaysian friend Aimei, Datong pagoda
The view from the top (or as high as we are allowed to go).
one dragon on the Nine Dragon Wall
Yungang Grottoes near Datong
It is impossible to convey the size and complexity of the carvings and paintings inside the caves. This is just a small glimpse.
Yungang Grottoes
The cave complex consists of about 60 caves along 1 km of a cliff face. They contain over 50,000 statues (most of them tiny of course).
Yungang Grottoes
schoolmates at Yungang Grottoes
another big Buddha at Yungang Grottoes
the biggest Buddha at Yungang Grottoes
I think I could fit comfortably in this one's ear. It has striking metal balls for eyes. My Japanese and Malaysian friends are in the foreground.
another Buddhist temple
Can't remember what this one was called... but it has a nice roof.
silk and lacquer work in Xi'an
The tiger screen is woven silk.
screen painting
carpet weaving
Terracotta Warriors near Xi'an
The army created to lie with the first Qin emperor (who brutally unified China in 221 BC). The sculptors and lots of real soldiers, horses, servants, dogs and concubines were also buried with the dead Emperor - except they were alive at the time.
Terracotta Warriors
Apparently each one has a different face.
Terracotta Warriors
ruins of Terracotta Warriors
remains of roof beams covering the Terracotta Warriors
example of spear-wielding warrior
example of cavalry warrior
example of high-ranking warrior
Xi'an Hotel
Big Goose Pagoda in Xi'an
Musical fountains from the Big Goose Pagoda
gardens of the Big Goose Pagoda
A small section of the stone tablets at Beilin, Xi'an
part of the Yijing: Book of Changes
tablet headstone with ancient characters
wild-style calligraphy
This was written by a great master who would get drunk, wander around crying, then take up the brush.
love letter poem with bamboo
Xi'an city wall
Xi'an has the best-preserved city wall in China. It runs for 14km and is mostly intact. You can hire bikes or golf buggies to explore it.
Xi'an city wall
ancient "drum music", Xi'an
It looked a lot better than it sounded. Those pipes give out an awful graunch.