Scroll left
  • The Celestial Globe at the Historical Observatory gleams in the sunlight. width:321;;height:480
  • Some of the tools used to observe the sky were created together by Chinese and European astronomers. Many, however, were inventions of the Chinese. width:640;;height:428
  • This Azimuth stands in the foreground of the Beijing skyline. width:640;;height:428
  • width:640;;height:428
  • One of multiple sextants used to measure angular distance between two stars. width:321;;height:480
  • Meghan and I enjoyed the surprisingly quiet observatory. width:321;;height:480
  • Contrast between man and nature as seen from the top of the observatory tower. width:640;;height:428
  • The stairs going down from the observatory... width:640;;height:428
  • ...and the stairs going up. width:326;;height:480
  • Another ancient tool, brought down to this beautiful courtyard. width:640;;height:428
  • The fingerprints of many visitors. width:640;;height:428
  • Guo Shoujing was a scientist and astronomer during the Yuan dynasty. Among other notable achievements, he created the Shoushi calendar. This pinpointed the precise number of days it took the Earth to orbit the sun (365.2425 days). width:640;;height:428
  • The sundial accurately lets us know it's a quarter to one. width:321;;height:480
  • Explanation of the sundial. width:640;;height:428
  • Xu Guangxi, according to the plaque, was a colleague and collaborator with the Italian Jesuit Mateo Ricci in translating western scientific texts. width:321;;height:480
  • The observatory tower itself. width:640;;height:428
  • Tiananmen Square is enormous and very close to the center of Beijing. width:640;;height:434
  • Changing of the guards at Tiananmen Square. width:640;;height:428
  • The entrance to the Forbidden City near the square is full of visitors, local and foreign. width:640;;height:428
  • The Hall of Supreme Harmony is seen in the distance. Different dynasties used this hall for various purposes. The Ming dynasty used it for state affairs discussions. Other dynasties chose this hall for special ceremonies. width:640;;height:434
  • The Forbidden City was built during the Ming dynasty in the early 1400s. width:321;;height:480
  • width:640;;height:428
  • The throne room in the Hall of Preserving Harmony. Many visitors crowded around the small opening to take pictures. width:640;;height:428
  • The largest ornate carving in the Forbidden City. width:321;;height:480
  • width:640;;height:428
  • One of the massive doors to a hall in the city. width:321;;height:480
  • Navigating through the crowds proves to be a good challenge for our foreign visitors. width:640;;height:428
  • This throne is found in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. width:640;;height:428
  • Some of the intricate work found on one of the doors in the palace width:640;;height:428
  • width:321;;height:480
  • This door handle was about the size of my outstretched hand. width:640;;height:428
  • width:640;;height:428
  • The Forbidden City is a massive palace. It also attracts many "wai guo ren" (foreigners). width:640;;height:428
  • A gate through to smaller courts in the palace. width:321;;height:480
  • Rocks in the Imperial Garden. width:640;;height:428
  • Our ascent up to one section of the Great Wall (Chang cheng). width:640;;height:428
  • A view out of one tower. width:321;;height:480
  • One of the hallways in a tower. width:640;;height:428
  • A Chinese man works to keep the Great Wall clean. width:640;;height:428
  • Irrefutable proof that we were at the Great Wall of China (one section, of course). width:640;;height:428
  • Eric holds on to his son as he climbs a steeper portion. In this restored section, there are many steps up or down to aid in reaching the next tower. width:640;;height:428
  • A small hole used, we presume, for archers to shield themselves against attack from the Mongols of the day. width:640;;height:428
  • width:640;;height:428
  • From this perspective, the viewer can get an idea of the elevation change involved in building this wall. width:640;;height:428
  • The six guys (from the left: Chris, Lee, Stefan, Jeremy, Chase, and Jon). width:640;;height:428
  • Lee and Leanne walk toward the next tower. width:321;;height:480
  • Sarah matches her umbrella! width:321;;height:480
  • width:640;;height:428
  • width:640;;height:428
  • Note the contrast between the restored and original. width:321;;height:480
  • width:640;;height:428
  • width:640;;height:428
  • width:640;;height:428
  • Many towers have wooden roofing like this. width:640;;height:428
  • width:640;;height:430
  • In America, we normally keep our cleaning products stowed away in a back corner, out of sight. The Chinese? Out in the open. width:321;;height:480
  • Lunch time! width:321;;height:480
  • ??? width:321;;height:480
  • width:321;;height:480
  • Zai jian chang cheng! (Good bye Great Wall!) width:640;;height:428
Scroll right