Sunday, June 28, 2009

A few pics from my recent sojourn through Beijing

I stupidly booked my stopover in Beijing during the middle of the anniversary of Tiananmen - arriving on the 6th of June. I just didn't think about it when i booked my tickets. I was also lucky to get into the country because I travelled at the height of the swine flu hysteria, when all passengers arriving in China were being tested for signs of a fever - and quarantined automatically for 7 days if they had so much as a sniffle or hot forehead.
Anyway, I made it in and had Saturday and Sunday to wander round a drizzly Beijing, including a trip out to my favourite temple, Jietai Si. I satyed at the Downtown Hostel on Nanluogu Xiang - excellent value, friendly service and right in the middle of the bar district. Highly recommended. (And you can book online).
Here's a few of the snaps I took with my Nikon 35Ti and the Leica R7, both mostly using Kodak Ektachrome slide film.

Beijing Capital Airport
The new Beijing airport: nice building and everything runs smoothly, but you can't buy anything to read in English! Rubbish!

Swine flu security at Beijing Capital Airport
Masks are the big thing in China. But they still hoick and spit everywhere.

Beijing - new airport, old habits
Nice arty shot of some ignorant peasants who took over the whole seating area to crash out, air their socks and generally deny the seating to anyone else. Twats.

Pass by Bar, Nanluogu Xiang
The Pass By Bar - where I spent most of my time drinking zhapi (draught beer).

Grandma and grandad, Beijing, June 2009
Street life.

Street kids, Jiaodaokou, Beijing, June 2009
Kids playing cards on the street.

Waiting at the exit of the Gugong
Group waiting by the exit of the Forbidden City.

North gate of the gugong (Forbidden City), Beijing
Forbidden City.

North moast of Forbidden City (Gugong) June 2009

Hutong essentials
Hutong stuff.

Tower in Beijing
Another tower.

Beihai, Beijing
Beihai Lake.

Boating in the rain at Beihai Park, Beijing

Rainy Sunday at Beihai Park, Beijing

Rainy Sunday at Beihai Park, Beijing

Beihai Park boats, Beijing


Beihai Park boats, Beijing, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Beihai Park in the rain, Beijing


Beihai Park in the rain, Beijing, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Beihai Park in the rain, Beijing


Beihai Park in the rain, Beijing, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Make your own entertainment, Beihai Park, Beijing

Make your own entertainment, Beihai Park, Beijing

Make your own entertainment, Beihai Park, Beijing

Beihai Park, Beijing, June 2009


Beihai Park, Beijing, June 2009, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Beihai Park, Beijing, June 2009


Beihai Park, Beijing, June 2009, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Beijing, Tiananmen, Forbidden city

Tibetan stupa, Beihai Park


Tibetan stupa, Beihai Park, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Tibetan stupa, Beihai Park, Beijing

Qianmen, Beijing, 7 June 2009


Qianmen, Beijing, originally uploaded by jiulong.

South end of Tiananmen, 7 June 2009

Not many people in Tiananmen Square (wonder why?), 7 June 2009


Tiananmen, June 2009, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Changanjie, June 2009


Changanjie, June 2009, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Changanjie, June 2009


Changanjie, June 2009, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Taken at about 7am on a Saturday with a Nikon 35Ti and slide film.

Tiananmen, June 2009


Tiananmen, June 2009, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Tiananmen, June 2009


Tiananmen, June 2009, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Tiananmen on the 20th anniversary of 6/5

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Nikon 35TI and Kodak Ektachrome Elite chrome slide film.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Nikon 35TI and Kodak Ektachrome slide film.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Nikon 35TI and kodak Ektachrome slide film.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Nikon 35TI and Kodak Ektachrome slide film.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Nikon 35TI and kodak Ektachrome slide film.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Nikon 35TI and kodak Ektachrome slide film.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Kodak Ektachrome slide film and Leica R7 camera.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Kodak Ektachrome slide film and Leica R7 camera.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Kodak Ektachrome slide film and Leica R7 camera.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Kodak Ektachrome slide film and Leica R7 camera.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Kodak Ektachrome slide film and Leica R7 camera.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Leica R7 and Kodak Ektachrome slide film with 50mm Summicron lens.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Leica R7 and Kodak Ektachrome slide film with 50mm Summicron lens.

Jietai Si temple (戒台寺) Beijing

Leica R7 and Kodak Ektachrome slide film with 50mm Summicron lens.