China 2003
We were there when modernization was in full swing... but not yet as widely accomplished as it is today.
I try to take "good pictures", rather than "mementos". As a result, they are not very good as reminders of where we have been...
... and they may not be very good photos, either... 
Don't ask me what these images correspond to - it was a long time ago. We took a group tour with Arts & Vie , a French operator with a "cultural tinge".
Finally... these are all resized, to make upload times reasonable. The originals are... big... but if someone wants one, we can use PMs.
BEWARE! There are a lot more...
Hélène and I returned a couple years ago, as fans of the French national basketball team. (We've been to quite a few countries, with both the men's and women's teams.) If these are well received, I'll post that trip, too.
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I'll put up about a dozen per day, until everyone starts yelling, "For God's sake... stop!"
LOL. Do you think you have as many as I do?
I see that you spent some time at the Summer Palace. I have a story about what I call the "Marble Boat". Many years ago, long before I even dreamed I would ever be in China, a client gave me a beautiful fine silk embroidery - a picture of that "boat". I knew the embroidery was Chinese, but had no idea if it was something real or just a composition. When I toured the Summer Palace I have to tell you that my jaw dropped to the ground when I saw the real thing.
Here I am posing in front of the "Marble Boat".
We were there in December. The lake was frozen.
So were we...
I was there at Christmas as well - 2006.
What you will soon discoverr, Bob, is that what happens here is an allegory of a shaggy dog story. The shaggy dog story is this:
An older dog and a puppy go out for a walk so the older dog can educate the puppy about life.
They come to some tables outside a restaurant and in the uneaten food there is a bone. The older dog says: "Chew it", and the puppy does.
Then they enter a park and there is a pretty little female pomeranian there, and the older dog says: "Screw it", and the puppy does as he is told.
After that they come to a telephone pole, and the older dog says: "Piss on it", so the puppy does his duty.
Continuing along, they approach a family enjoying a barbeque, and the man throws a piece of steak at them so the older dog says: "Chew it", and the puppy enjoys doing that.
Lo and behold a miniature poodle bitch approaches them, and the older dog says "Screw it", so the puppy does just that.
And on the way home, they pass by a fire hydrant, and the older dog says "Piss on it", and the puppy happily does so.
So what is the moral of this story?
If you can't chew it and you can't screw it, piss on it.
So why do I consider it an allegory?
Because there are too many members on NT who think that if it isn't politics and it isn't religion, PISS ON IT.
Don't expect to see many members comment on your photo articles.
These are all beautiful photos, Bob. I am studying Chinese artwork, and much of what I have seen thus far is truly awesome. The Chinese are truly wonderful artisans. The intricate detail in their work is just mesmerizing.
I have seen many of the awesome photos Buzz has shared in Mac's art group, and now these that are also stunning. I won't be the one who says "For God's sake....stop!" I will be the one saying, "MORE, MORE, MORE" (grin)
Great photos.
Buzz, you look like you could use a ''warm up''.
Believe me... Beijing in December is c o l d ! !
Yes, Beijing was cold, the Summer Palace was colder, but you could freeze your "baitzim" on The Great Wall.
Yes!
And we did!
Photos to come...