Beijing 2024 - Beijing Old Library (中国国家图书馆)

 

From the Summer Palace exit, we took a bus to the nearest station called HuoQiYing. I thought the name of the station was rather weird, Fire Equipment place? Hahaha. It was also the first time we took the bus! I think we still use our metro card to pay, or was it WeChat? I can't quite remember. A year later now, I am familiar with paying bus or metro via WeChat QR code, but I still prefer Transport Card. Although low tech, it is faster as compared to my other travelling mates, and you don't have the worry of your phone battery dying on you or worst, phone stolen or lost! Call me old fashion, but I'm not a fan of mobile payment outside of my house. But if it's a restaurant or a store, as an introvert, I like mobile payments! :P

 

We took the metro to the Beijing Library cause I saw a photo of it and wanted to visit cause it looked so futuristic. I was excited that it was on our way home, so I suggested we make a stop there.

This was the building I saw when I reached the place. Totally different from the photos I saw from the internet. I had a feeling maybe I'm at the wrong place. I was trying to visit this library. Perhaps the futuristic building is behind the old one? Ha! No such luck. Talk about lousy research at my end! I never realised that Beijing could have more than one national library! Agh!!!!!

Still, we went inside. Since I was already here, I might as well take a look. And Wow! What a beautiful grand library! Above is the main entrance. I knew I was in the wrong library because I went and asked the bored customer service guy who confirmed it for me :P

Anyway, this library was super huge, and I thought it just contained books.  But then I realised they have exhibition halls too! So I went and explore the available exhibition there that day :)

Beijing 2024 - Summer Palace (颐和园) Beautiful Bridges

After visiting most of the sites of Summer Palace, we finally decided to make our way out. We follow the signs to the nearest exit, but somehow was still admiring many beautiful bridges along the way out. So much greeneries hanging down make a great photo of the bridge above.

 

Here is a different complete view of the bridge. Water and reflection is also one of my favourite things to photograph. When there is any water in sign, you could usually take awesome photos of reflection, even if it's just a puddle on the ground. Always remember that!

Again, bridges are free to cross, or row your boat underneath it!

Even the exit is wide and beautiful. It rained a bit when we were making our way out. The scenery was both calming and relaxing cause there weren't much people at this part of the park. We realised later that they exit we took lead us to the side of a highway, so we were forced to take a bus to the nearest metro station, lol. 

A more generic bridge outside the park. We saw people diving and swimming in these waters. Old people! I guess that's how people in China stays fit! Hahahahaha. Bye Bye Summer Palace. You were amazing to visit!

Beijing 2024 - Summer Palace (颐和园) Pond View and Marble Bridge

As the days progresses on, the sky begin to clear, and a hint of blue started to appear in the sky. Time for some photo taking! Finally! Some colours in my Summer Palace photos!

The temple we climbed earlier. It looked so magnificent. I can't get enough of the view.

Small boats going by on the pond. As much as they looked fun, I've never actually spend money on them before. I think if I ever did, it would be those awesome boats I saw in Xihu Hangzhou, where they even serves snacks and tea on the boat, and bring you where ever you want at Xihu, just you and your date (and the boatman). I thought that was the most romantic date you could do in Hangzhou! Too bad I was there alone. 

Pretty view. 

Maybe I uploaded all these photo, hoping that when I edit these post I would removed those similar photos. But nope, they all looked pretty to me! So here they shall stay, until this blog dies off. If I die first, they will still be here :)

I can't really swim, but I love looking at pools of water.

Ok, time to change the view a bit. We have now reached the long marble bridge! It looked like a white dragon on the lake. It connects the main park to a small island in the middle of the pond. You could just walk across it. It's free. No tickets required.

Bridge full of people. 

Still munching on our food along the pond.

A photo of us on the marble bridge. 

Beijing 2024 - Summer Palace (颐和园) Museum

 

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. 

Beijing 2024 - Summer Palace (颐和园) Unesco Temple

 

Walking around the park called Summer Palace, I do sometimes wonder which building is the main palace. We did however came across a temple which was stated to be UNESCO status. It wasn't that big or grand, but I guess it's more of how old it is and it's significants in the Chinese traditions and culture.

Above is the info board of the temple. We didn't really spend much time here as it was pretty small.

Many people came to pay their respect here. The kirin standing outside was part of the charm of this place.

So I did a close up shot of it. We don't really see this creature in the temples in South East Asia. We usually see the lions instead. But here in China, I often see kirins and peacocks and cranes at the temple area. 

There is, of course, always dragons everywhere. I am always fascinated by dragons, whether in the east or in the west. In fact, I am fascinated that a mythical creature such as the dragon exist in almost every culture. Does that mean they are real or existed once upon a time? Does that apply to Gods too?

A marble craved dragon. The detailed was mind blowing.

To be frank, I can't tell it was a UNESCO site, until I saw this sign. Or perhaps they meant the whole Summer Palace was a UNESCO site? Sometimes I get confused like that. But it's ok. I think what is important is I am there, and I visited the place and shared the history. 

Another nice shot of the high up temple and the lake. I like photos like these. And again, it reminded me so much of Tibet or Nepal. I always get those countries mixed up. Throw in Bhutan as well in that basket. Perhaps by visiting those places, I would finally sort out my confusion? A year ago, I have not much knowledge of Beijing or Shanghai and it's surrounding cities. But look at me know! I have a list of cities I would like to visit in China that I never even knew existed before prior to my free visa!

Taking a wefie with my grumpy hubby :)

Beijing 2024 - Summer Palace (颐和园) De He Yuan Garden Theatre

 

I thought seeing a three storey ancient theatre was kinda special when I visited the Forbidden City, so when I walked into the 颐和园, I wasn't expecting to see another gigantic theatre there! How many such theatre are there in the whole of China? How is it they love their opera so much? Lol.

Walking in to the unassuming entrance. I love those dark green doors and red pillars.

I guess this must be the lobby area. It looked more like a resting area, a living room. Hence at this point, I still thought I was just visiting another grand mansion or courtyard.

Walking further in to the open courtyard and there you go! In all it's glory, another three storey theatre right in the middle of Summer Palace. I personally thought the one here was cooler looking than the one at the Forbidden City. It looked kinda newer, or better maintained? Or maybe it was more minimalistic, hence giving it a more modern and spacious look? It just somehow felt lighter, and free-er. 

Up closed view of all the chinese characters hanging on every level of the stage.

There were some old man just standing there testing the acoustic of the theatre with their vocals. No doubt everyone in China is secret opera singer! Their voice were pretty solid. And yes, the acoustic was solid as well, since they didn't have any mic or speaker system back in those days. 

The theatre were surrounded by corridors filled with little rooms. Box seats!

Here is a cute view of them. I love looking at these. Hence that's one of the reason I like the theatre here better. It has private box seats where you could just sit alone and drink tea while watching the show! How cool is that? Perhaps opera those days runs for hours! I sure hope the weather is cooling!

I also wonder if each box is a dedicated box for a person. That way, you could even decorate the box to your liking. Hanging your favourite painting or flower arrangements. Perhaps even storing your favourite book there, or even snacks! I hope the walls are sound proof too, so you don't have to hear the chatter from the next box.

Somehow I think I might be right? Each box does seems to have their own deco and table arrangements. 

Perhaps they even have their meals here? I'm sure there are enough servants and cooks to support the royal families?

Some official info for your reference. 

I guess what happened in the past, it's secrets are locked there. I'm sure there are documentation of the daily lives here, but are there cross reference evidences to support the whispers of business or gossips that goes round here in the privacy of each theatre box? What a mystery.