Tag Archives: China

April 4, 2014 · 5:35 am

Fun Photo Friday — Olympic Green Beijing

Everyone calls it the Olympic Park, but the official name for the area in which the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games were held is officially Olympic Green. Below you’ll see the Beijing National Aquatics Center, Beijing National Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest), and other sights remaining at this former Olympic site. You’ll also see a very large dragon known as Pangu Park.

Doug at the Bird’s Nest

Bird’s Nest Panorama 2

Bird’s Nest Panorama 1

Pangu Plaza Dragon

Ursula and the Bird’s Nest

Aquatic Center

Olympic Green

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel

Tagged as Beijing, Beijing National Stadium, Beijing Olymic Park, Bird's Nest, China, Fun Photo Friday, Olympic Green, photography, travel

March 31, 2014 · 5:35 am

Ming Dynasty Tombs

Shengong Shengde Stele Pavilion

China was ruled by the Ming Dynasty from 1368 until 1644. During those 276 years there were sixteen Ming emperors. Following the collapse of the Ming Dynasty there were an additional seven Ming emperors who ruled over the so-called Southern Ming Dynasty, which ran from 1644 until execution of the last of the Southern Ming emperors eighteen years later in 1662.

Ming Dynasty Tombs

Located north of Beijing are the grounds which once held the tombs of thirteen Ming Dynasty Emperors. The Ming Dynasty Tombs were ransacked and many of the tombs on the grounds were burned in 1644 by the advancing rebel army led by Li Zicheng. One of these tombs — Dingling Underground Palace — was excavated and underwent restoration completed in 1959.

Ming Dynasty Tombs

Along the walkway through the grounds you’ll find many statues of government officials.

Ming Dynasty Tombs

Also lining the walk are large statues of guardian animals. As you walk past the animals you’ll find them going from a standing to a kneeling posture. Chen “Jim” Mao told us that this symbolizes that even animals would bow in the presence of the emperor.