The White Dagoba, viewed from near the south entrance to Beihai Park - a sight that never gets old, despite my many visits to this favorite park.  The photographs on this page and the next were taken across Beijing throughout spring and summer 2008.  Because I visited most of these places on earlier trips and wrote about them on other pages, I won’t have much to say about them here; just enjoy the view.

Magnolia blossoms in front of Minor Western Heaven (Land of Extreme Happiness) in northwest Beihai Park.

The center dragon on the Nine Dragon Screen in Beihai Park.

The White Dagoba on a breezy morning in Beihai Park.

A magnolia tree in Beihai Park.

Nine Dragon Screen, Beihai Park.

White dragon on Nine Dragon Screen, Beihai Park.

Roof edge of one of the Five Dragon Pavilions, Beihai Park.

Magnolia blossoms in Beihai Park.

Minor Western Heaven (Land of Extreme Happiness) and the Five Dragon Pavilions in Beihai Park, viewed from nearby Jingshan Park.

A pavilion in Jingshan Park.

The White Dagoba and the blue-tiled Shanyin Hall in Beihai Park, viewed from Jingshan Park.

Late afternoon in Ritan Park - the Temple of the Sun - in eastern downtown Beijing.  The park used to charge a nominal fee for entry; now it’s free.

Magnolia blossoms in full bloom in Ritan Park.

Another in my “Great Signs of China” series.  The small building behind this window supposedly houses ancient relics - dashing ones! - but the building cannot be entered, and the only relics that a view through this window reveals are dusty remnants from long-ago construction.  As this is the only museum-like feature within Ritan Park, most every passing visitor took a look.

Broken wall tiles around the Temple of the Sun altar area in Ritan Park.  These will undoubtedly be fixed up in time for the Olympics this summer.

Vendor booth near the entrance to the Lama Temple.

Corner of a sign above the entryway to one of the Lama Temple structures, written in Mongolian, Tibetan, Chinese and Manchu.

A prayer wheel at the Lama Temple.

Detail of the Bell Tower bell at the Lama Temple.

Statue of Confucius at the Temple of Confucius in Beijing, across the street from the Lama Temple.  Confucius is considered China’s greatest teacher; parents of students about to take China’s all-important college entry exam come here to pray for good results.

A hall at the Temple of Confucius.

Eaves of a Temple of Confucius structure.

Pathway through the Temple of Confucius.

Detail of a huge, gnarly old tree at the Temple of Confucius.

Vendor cart of lucky charms at the Temple of Confucius.  Keep one for yourself, or sign it on the back and hang it on a tree in the temple for good luck.

Fence in the Temple of Confucius.

The Gate of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City.

The Meridian Gate - the south entrance to the Forbidden City - and the Golden Stream that separates it from the rest of the complex.  I’ve taken this shot before; it’s hard to resist doing so on a sunny morning like this.  Both the Meridian Gate and the Gate of Supreme Harmony lie along the north-south axis connecting the most important structures in Beijing (now including the stadium for the upcoming Olympics).

Detail from a Forbidden City gateway.

North of the Gate of Supreme Harmony, on the west side of the plaza facing east, is the Tower of Spreading Justice, now used to display Forbidden City relics.

Stacked bolts of silk cloth on display in the Forbidden City.

Unlike the lucky charms available from vendor carts throughout Beijing tourist sites, this one on display in the Forbidden City cannot be purchased.

Detail of a dragon blanket covering the back of a golden elephant statue in the Forbidden City.  The elephant is nothing special, but that blanket is.

Giant guardian lions in the Forbidden City.

The Nine Dragon Screen in the Forbidden City.  Though older and longer than the Nine Dragon Screen next door in Beihai Park, I like the one in Beihai Park more - partly because the dragons here are somewhat skinny and comical, partly because this screen here faces north and never catches enough sun to create a great photograph.