The Summer Palace is an Imperial encampment of temples, gates, halls, and pavilions set around Kunming Lake. The Empress Dowager of the Qing dynasty spent her time here.

Colorful Souvenirs

Summer Palace Long Corridor

Ceiling of Long Corridor

Coca-Cola seems to have the Chinese market tied up (except in Shanghai).

Summer Palace Gate

The Empress Dowager's marble boat is a symbol of the wasteful extravagence of the Manchu court. The funds were supposed to be used for the Qing naval fleet.

Babies wear split pants as diapers are too hard to come by.

Bridge at Summer Palace

This beggar followed Brita around until she finished her Coke, then asked her for the Coke bottle; when Peter took his picture, he asked him for money.

Beggar outside our bus at the Summer Palace

Pearl Factory. There are about 20 pearls (freshwater) in each oyster. Brita helped her open the oyster during her demonstration.

Mom buying a black pearl necklace

Brita helped fish the oyster out from the tank.

Giant Pearl Display

Goofing off on the bus

Traffic is chaotic!

Picking up her son after school

We stayed at the Trader's Hotel in Beijing.

Mark (our national guide), Ed, Mike

Carving the Peking Duck into exactly 108 pieces.