We have been to Shanghai and if you ask me what the place is like, I would say this video sums it up perfectly.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Panda House at Beijing Zoo
Monday, 21 September
Beijing Zoo
What? Visit Zoo to see these Pandas?
Don't worry, walk further in...
...and you will see the real thing
...enclosed in this building...
...or in an open space pen.
It is not easy to capture them on the photo where you would like them to be.
Our tour guide, Khristy, advised that weekends are not the best time to visit the zoo. You will be stuck in traffic jams enroute and you will have to fight with the locals to get a good view or shot of the pandas.
This signage is just beside the open air pen.
Don't understand what it said either? I will be on a look out for write up about Pandas in English. Look out for it and more about what you can see at this zoo.
Beijing Zoo
What? Visit Zoo to see these Pandas?
Don't worry, walk further in...
...and you will see the real thing
...enclosed in this building...
...or in an open space pen.
It is not easy to capture them on the photo where you would like them to be.
Our tour guide, Khristy, advised that weekends are not the best time to visit the zoo. You will be stuck in traffic jams enroute and you will have to fight with the locals to get a good view or shot of the pandas.
This signage is just beside the open air pen.
Don't understand what it said either? I will be on a look out for write up about Pandas in English. Look out for it and more about what you can see at this zoo.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Images of the Forbidden City
More images of the Forbidden City discovered on SlideShare.
You can find out the name and the function of each area on World Visit Guide.
'Forbidden City' - Beijing
View more presentations from John J.
You can find out the name and the function of each area on World Visit Guide.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Window Shopping Wangfujing (王府井) Street
Sunday, 20 September
We arrived at Wangfujing Street past 7.00pm. We were told before our arrival that we will see many branded foreign retailers along one side of Wangfujing Street and...
...find exotic snacks and food further down.
Shoppers can walk freely on the road as it is off-limits to motor vehicles.
Bag packs to the front. We were warned to be aware of snatch thieves.
We were told by our guide that all imported goods sold in China have been taxed 300%. So, shopping there is not a good idea if you are looking for a good bargain.
You can't bargain when you shop at departmental stores...
...but you can try at shops selling local product, like this one...
...and small independent stores selling souvenirs.
What is the best advice for shopping at stores in China where you can bargain? Just indicate your interest and then walk away. Don't turn back till the shop assistant runs after you with the item crying out the price you are willing to pay for. If you are lucky, you can get it at 100% lower than the offered price!
We arrived at Wangfujing Street past 7.00pm. We were told before our arrival that we will see many branded foreign retailers along one side of Wangfujing Street and...
...find exotic snacks and food further down. Shoppers can walk freely on the road as it is off-limits to motor vehicles.
Bag packs to the front. We were warned to be aware of snatch thieves.
We were told by our guide that all imported goods sold in China have been taxed 300%. So, shopping there is not a good idea if you are looking for a good bargain.You can't bargain when you shop at departmental stores...
...but you can try at shops selling local product, like this one...
...and small independent stores selling souvenirs.What is the best advice for shopping at stores in China where you can bargain? Just indicate your interest and then walk away. Don't turn back till the shop assistant runs after you with the item crying out the price you are willing to pay for. If you are lucky, you can get it at 100% lower than the offered price!
The Forbidden City 紫禁城/故宫
Sunday 20 September 2009
Shenwumen which means "Gate of Divine Prowess" is one of the entrances to the The Forbidden City.
Right across this entrance is a man made hill, "Jing Shan or Coal Hill". It was built up with soil excavated from the construction site of the Imperial Palace.
We did not visit "Jing Shan Park" but Christy, our local guide told us that the last of the Ming emperors, Chongzheng, hanged himself on a tree in that park during a peasant revolt in 1644.
You can read about its history and view images of the park and the said tree at BeijingGuide2008.
What's inside "The Forbidden City"?
A clearer view of the floor plan of The Forbidden City seen in the above photograph.
You can read its history on Wikipedia and find out the name and the function of each area on World Visit Guide.
Empress Dowager Cixi was the first woman in China to own a telephone.
The emperor's sitting room. A place to read and write?
And many many fengshui enhancing artifacts.
This huge crystal is placed outside the emperor’s room. Possibly to enhance love and harmony in his life?
Look at this copper urn. What do you think it was once used for?
You can see many smaller ones placed along its corridors.
The answer: They were used for storing water for fighting fire, just in case of a breakout. During winter, fire were lighted up below the urns to thaw the ice.
You can see many fengshui enhancing artifacts in The Forbidden City.
Following are slideshows my friend created with photos of his visit to The Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City 故宫/紫禁城They Are Beautiful (The Forbidden City/紫禁城/故宫 pt2)
Shenwumen which means "Gate of Divine Prowess" is one of the entrances to the The Forbidden City.
We did not visit "Jing Shan Park" but Christy, our local guide told us that the last of the Ming emperors, Chongzheng, hanged himself on a tree in that park during a peasant revolt in 1644. 
You can read about its history and view images of the park and the said tree at BeijingGuide2008.What's inside "The Forbidden City"?
A clearer view of the floor plan of The Forbidden City seen in the above photograph.
You can read its history on Wikipedia and find out the name and the function of each area on World Visit Guide.The communication room.
The emperor's sitting room. A place to read and write?
And many many fengshui enhancing artifacts.
This huge crystal is placed outside the emperor’s room. Possibly to enhance love and harmony in his life?
Look at this copper urn. What do you think it was once used for?
You can see many smaller ones placed along its corridors.
The answer: They were used for storing water for fighting fire, just in case of a breakout. During winter, fire were lighted up below the urns to thaw the ice.The Hall of Supreme Harmony
You can see many fengshui enhancing artifacts in The Forbidden City.
Following are slideshows my friend created with photos of his visit to The Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City 故宫/紫禁城They Are Beautiful (The Forbidden City/紫禁城/故宫 pt2)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A visit to Dr Tea
Sunday, 20 September 
We were brought to a government-sponsored teashop, "Dr Tea" at this address:
No. 1 Min zu yuan Road
There we were seated like little children for a lesson in tea making by a young lady.
We also sampled the different variety of tea they carry in their shop. There is the Jasmine, Golden Green Tea, Oolong tea called, Litchi Tea, and Pu’er tea. The Pu'er was shown to us in cake form and they claimed that it has been aged for 18 years.
And that is why I had the address of Dr Tea posted here. Purchasers of a box of Pu'er which consist of 8 pieces can return one piece 3 years later for a box of 8 of the same. It seems that because of the humidity in Malaysia, 3 years of storage is equivalent to 5 years in China.
That sounds like a good investment if you are willing to part with RMB4000 for a box which comes with a certificate of authenticity.
We were brought to a government-sponsored teashop, "Dr Tea" at this address:
No. 1 Min zu yuan Road
Chao yang District
Beijing
Fax: 010-82077030
There we were seated like little children for a lesson in tea making by a young lady. 
We also sampled the different variety of tea they carry in their shop. There is the Jasmine, Golden Green Tea, Oolong tea called, Litchi Tea, and Pu’er tea. The Pu'er was shown to us in cake form and they claimed that it has been aged for 18 years. And that is why I had the address of Dr Tea posted here. Purchasers of a box of Pu'er which consist of 8 pieces can return one piece 3 years later for a box of 8 of the same. It seems that because of the humidity in Malaysia, 3 years of storage is equivalent to 5 years in China.
That sounds like a good investment if you are willing to part with RMB4000 for a box which comes with a certificate of authenticity.
The Beijing Tiandi Theatre Acrobatic Show
Friday, 18 September, 2009
The Beijing Tiandi Theater Acrobatic Show
We went to The Beijing Tiandi Theater to catch the 5.30pm acrobatic show before our dinner.
According to Beijing Guide, the performers are from the China National Acrobatic Troupe which was the first national performing arts troupe established by the Central Government of China. This troupe is one of the best in China and it has won 18 gold medals on various international acrobatic competitions.
We were allocated "green" seats on the left hand side of the theater for the 1.5 hours show.
Photographs are not allowed to be taken during the performance...
...but you can view photos of the programme from website of Tiandi Theatre and at The China Guide.
After the show, some members of the troupe went around the theater to sell recordings of their performances at RMB10.00 a piece.
The Beijing Tiandi Theater Acrobatic Show
We went to The Beijing Tiandi Theater to catch the 5.30pm acrobatic show before our dinner.
According to Beijing Guide, the performers are from the China National Acrobatic Troupe which was the first national performing arts troupe established by the Central Government of China. This troupe is one of the best in China and it has won 18 gold medals on various international acrobatic competitions.
We were allocated "green" seats on the left hand side of the theater for the 1.5 hours show.
Photographs are not allowed to be taken during the performance...
...but you can view photos of the programme from website of Tiandi Theatre and at The China Guide.
After the show, some members of the troupe went around the theater to sell recordings of their performances at RMB10.00 a piece.
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