King of the flowers 花中之王

Peony [牡丹花]

A painting in the garden 院子里的一幅画

Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China [都江堰, 四川]

Double happiness 囍

A shop selling stuff for Chinese wedding ceremony.  Hong Kong [香港]

Give me some food! 给我一点吃的吧！

Dalian Zoo, Liaoning, China [大连, 辽宁]

This bear performed some funny gestures making the visitors laughed and then begged for food.  (-__-;)

The silence bell 不响的钟

Bell Tower of Xian, Xian, China [西安钟楼, 西安]

Xian is an interesting city but too bad, I didn't enjoy my trip.  We had some problems getting around on our own using the public transport.  We wanted to take the public bus to the terra cotta warriors pits but couldn't find the bus stop.  Everyone we asked pointed us to the tour agencies and tour buses.  In the end, out of desperation, we took one that would take us there.  But the tour bus took us to places we didn't want to go.  At the end of the day, the tour bus dropped us off at the road side bus stop with some refunds because the rest of the tourists decided to give the terra cotta warriors a miss.  ( -___- !)  When we finally reached the site, it was closing in 30 mins time!  

On the way back, we took the public bus just to see where the bus stop is.  It was on the other side of the railway station.  We have been looking for it at the wrong side.  (T_T)

Catch of the day 今天的收获

Seafood stall along Ameyoko Street, Tokyo [東京]

Turn and turn 转啊!转!

Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China [九寨沟, 四川]

Prayer wheels along the balcony of a Tibetan house inside Jiuzhaigou.

My empire 我的霸业

The Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang Pit No. 1, Xian, China [秦始皇陵兵马俑一号俑坑,  西安]

A natural mirror 一面天然的镜子

Mirror Lake, Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China [镜海, 九寨沟, 四川]

Take a break 小息

Guard House at the Tokyo Imperial Palace [皇居, 東京]

A dash of blue 平凡中的灿烂

Ueno Park, Tokyo [上野公園, 東京]

Love the dash of brilliant blue against brown.  Definitely caught my eye.

Lakeview 湖境

West Lake, Hangzhou, China [西湖, 杭州]

The beauty of Chinese garden.

Oh heavens! Heard my prayers? 上天啊, 听到我的愿望吗?

Imperial Vault of Heaven, Temple of Heaven, Beijing [皇穹宇, 天坛, 北京]

Deserted 被遗忘了

Deserted mill, Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China [九寨沟, 四川]

It was once a fashion 昔日的时尚

Traditional chinese shoes, Shanghai [上海] history wax exhibition.

We were catching a view of Shanghai Bund [上海外滩] at the Oriental Pearl Tower [东方明珠塔] when we chanced upon this wax exhibition showcasing the history of Shanghai.  It was a unexpected but enjoyable walk into the past of Shanghai.

They look busy 他们在忙什么呢?

Dalian, Liaoning, China [大连, 辽宁]

In full glory 艳丽盛开

West Lake, Zhejiang, China [西湖, 浙江]

Was captivated by this beautiful bloom.

Through the round door 圆门的景色

Du Fu' Thatched Cottage, Chengdu, China [杜甫草堂, 成都]

A park and museum in honour of Tang Dynasty poet, Du Fu.  A peaceful and relaxing walk.

 

Reminiscence 往事只能回味

Hutong, Qianmen, Beijing [胡同, 前门, 北京]

Things are changing so fast.  I grabbed the opportunity to walk around the hutongs when I was in Beijing the first time.  Then, I was already seeing high-rise buildings encircling the skyline of the hutongs.  Recently, I heard they have made over Qianmen and a lot of the hutongs are gone.  Did my first visit become my last?

Balance and patience 平衡与耐心

Ueno Park, Tokyo [上野公園, 東京]

Where they had walked before 他们走过的路

Long Corridor, Summer Palace, Beijing. [长廊, 颐和园, 北京]

Walking along the long corridor, I wondered who had walked along the same corridor in its glorious days?  The imperial concubines who were passing their time till the emperor's next visit?  The palace maid who was scurrying along to carry out the order of her lady?  The guards on patrol?  Or the emperor himself?

Waiting, for my time 等待时机

Dalian, Liaoning, China [大连, 辽宁]

These are our prayers 我们的祈祷

Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China [九寨沟, 四川]

Passed down from our forefathers 祖业

Senbei work-in-progress, Tokyo [東京]

Was walking along the streets in search of traditional handmade dango [団子], when I chanced upon them making senbei [煎餅] rice crackers.

Reflection 倒影

Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China [九寨沟, 四川]

Protect our land 捍卫国土

The Great Wall, Badaling, China [万里长城, 八达岭]

Climbing this wall was a great test of my physical endurance and strength.  By the time I managed to stand up there, my admiration for the soldiers of the past has reached the maximum height.  I was just weighted down by winter clothes.  They, by their heavy armors and weapons.

Sculpted by fire 遇火重生

Glass sculpturing.  Tokyo Disneyland.

Stand in awe 敬畏

Kaminarimon, Sensōji, Tokyo [雷門, 浅草寺]