Monday, December 05, 2005

The Forbidden City deserted, Beijing, December 2002


gugong port, originally uploaded by jiulong.

I recently dug out these snaps I took of the Forbidden City during our trip through Beijing at Christmas 2002 (see also the video here). I'm surprised how well they turned out - they have an almost timeless look about them. I used my faithful little point and shoot camera, the Yashica T4, and I'm amazed that I was able to find the time to snap so many pictures of an apparently deserted Gugong. If I remember rightly, at the time I was dragging two very bored and cold young boys around with me, who just wanted to go back to the hotel and play Tomb Raider on my laptop. Here's some pics of them at Tiananmen and a frozen Beihai (where they enjoyed sliding round on sledges)


Tiananmen twins, Dec 2003
Tiananmen.
Andrew and Paul at a frozen Beihai, Beijing, Dec 2003Beihai Lake.

Snowy steps at the Gugong


steps gugong, originally uploaded by jiulong.

A lonely figure at the Forbidden City, winter 2003


winter gugong2, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Beijing is bleak in winter


beijing bleak, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Winter at the Gugong


winter gugong, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Guanming throne - Gugong, Beijing


guanming altar, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Forbidden City - throne of the Celestial emperor


altar4, originally uploaded by jiulong.

Blue skies at the Summer Palace - in winter 2003


blue palace, originally uploaded by jiulong.