Jinli Old Street in Chengdu, China

Jinli Old Street is a concentration of Chengdu city life.  The Jinli Old Street has many buildings built in the style of The Qing Dynasty. The Shop keepers, waiters and waitresses are all dressed in traditional style clothing, making this street feel to visitors as though they have stepped back in time.

Being one of the oldest commercial streets in China, Jinli Old Street is not only a wonderful reminder of China's past, but also a great place for people to fully appreciate Sichuan's customs, and folk arts.  We enjoyed our time there.

A lady vendor grabbed me and wrapped the scarf around my neck
I didn't buy it.

Lots of artist making various items

traditional streets made to look like old China

Park areas were grgeous

Lots of beautiful Jade

Our last look from Jinli Old Street

Du Fu's Cottage in Chengdu, China

During one of our days of exploring we visited Du Fu's Cottage. 

In 759 Du Fu moved to Chengdu, built a thatched hut near a Creek and lived there for four years. The "thatched hut" period was the peak of Du Fu's creativity, during which he wrote two hundred and forty poems.  He is a revered person in Chengdu, China. 

We found the area peaceful, beautiful, and calm.  It was hard to leave because of the wonderful feeling we experienced while walking through the area.  Hopefully a few pictures will help you understand why we liked this area so much.

This is how they plant grass in China.  Notice the little girl helping

The grounds were mystical

 

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populated cities in the world.  It is the second largest Chinese city next to Shanghai and is the nation's political, cultural, and educational center!  We loved Beijing.  The days were clear and beautiful while we visited.  According to the locals it is a rare site to have clean air. The city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, gardens, tombs, walls and gates, and its art treasures and universities have made it a center of culture and art in China.  The BYU teachers are teaching in the best universities found in China.  Our travel, shopping, and site seeing was all perfectly planned and enjoyed.  Here are some of the pictures we took while we were there!

PEARL MARKET
This is an indoor market which is famous for it's pearls but it also has many other souvenirs and toys available to buy from very aggressive vendors. 

The outside of the Pearl Market

Pete bought a Jade stamp that was hand engraved with his name

This is the guy that did the engraving



I'm negotiating with the lady on a lovely silk duvet

FORBIDDEN CITY AND TEANANMEN SQUARE
Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the center of Beijing named after the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace). It is the third largest city square in the world and it has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history including 1968's big demonstration by the young students who were protesting.

Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. It was much bigger than I imagined and very impressive. Those emperors had quite the life with their wives and concubines.


The walls and buildings were ornately decorated

The Emperor's throne







President McKay dedicated Beijing for missionary work. It happened somewhere in the Forbidden City gardens


TEMPLE OF HEAVEN is a magnificent temple and park where emperors offered sacrifices. There we saw the refurbished circular 'Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests'

This is where they offered sacrifices



Resting in Park inside the Forbidden


Mote around the Forbidden City

The Temple of Heaven

 PEKING ACROBATS




 JADE MARKET AND THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA


































RICKSHAW RIDE IN OLD BEIJING










SUMMER PALACE

This was where one of the concubines of the emperor lived. He bought this beautiful garden and palace for her to enjoy in the summer months. It was very beautiful.

Marble Boat

Street Vendors never stopped bugging us

  2008 OLYMPIC PLAZA

Olympic Park - The Bird's Nest used for stadium and track and field events

Olympic Park - The Bubble used for swimming ad diving

IBM Building built to look like a dragon

PEKING DUCK DINNER


 

SUNDAY MORNING WE SAID GOOD-BYE TO BEIJING.  THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS


City of Beijing

China National TV Station building in downtown Beijing