We found the museum inside the Summer Palace. I was headed there because our combination tickets included an entrance ticket to the museum. I guess sometimes you could also let combination tickets guide you in your travel. If you don't know what to see, just get a combo! Note that this doesn't always apply to every situation. You gotta researched a bit, see the price, and whether the place is trust worthy. Of if it's places you really wanted to visit. For example, if you visit ZhuJiaJiao in Shanghai, they sell combination tickets too. But some of the tickets included art museums, or tea houses or coffee. If you are only interested in the UNESCO gardens there, it is actually cheaper to pay per entry instead if you are not interested in the rest of the attractions. Anyway, above is the beautiful courtyard leading towards the heritage museum.
And here is the very modest entrance, with the traditional stone lion.
It looked pretty small from the outside.
But the details of the building still trumps anything. The colours, the dragons everywhere!
One of my favourite character in Chinese history, the Empress Dowager Cixi. Although known to be pretty cruel, I am still amazed at her reign. From the museum, I actually read that she can have whole dining set of porcelain commissioned just for a birthday party, and artisans would make all these beautiful pieces just for the celebration, used only once! Wow! Some of these plates and bowls were displayed in this museum, and they were beautiful!
Picture of the royal court in the past. Is that my three storey theatre in the picture?
Old trishaw, or is it call pull-cart? Rickshaw? Ah yes, rickshaw is the correct term.
Pieces of marble carving of a fish. Or was it jade?
I don't really really like green jade, but I think I could learn to like white jade.
Flower arrangements made of stones and gems? These always look tacky in SEA markets and shops. But when you see what they have in the real palace, you suddenly understand why common people like to buy those tacky ones to put in their home. It's kinda like branded bags you see and can't afford, so you get a cheaper version to make yourself feel special :P
Porcelain in China. I can't decide which is better, Japanese porcelain or Chinese? Usually the designs in Japanese are simple and elegant. But the Chinese ones sometimes can be so detailed, so elaborated that it has a beauty of it's own to it.
Semi modern tea sets. I don't know why I am obsess with tea sets, pottery and porcelain.
A more western style tea sets.
A simple decorative plate.
A marble game table. I like this one. It looks like those Indian marble chess table. If I live in a mansion, this would be one of the thing I would have in my garden or library or study room! And I would get an AI Chess Robot as well to keep me company for all eternity (or until my death). I don't think I'll even be bored playing chess.
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