Photographed by Jair (Yair) Moreshet 2006 Music: The Jasmine Flower song played on the traditional Chinese instrument Erhu (China)

The first Gate Building of the Forbidden City

The throne of the last emperor in the Forbidden City

Beijing: Ascending to the Temple of Heaven

Beijing: The historical Temple of Heaven.

Temple of Heaven: The typical current usage by Beijing citizens. (The majority of Chinese don’t believe in any organized religion, anyway.)

…however, if you are an anxious pedestrian in the Hutong district of Beijing and feel an urge for an immediate support, this niche is available for you off the side walk for self-service…

In the Hutong district of Beijing: The gardens of a (historical) residence of a Mandarin.

Beijing: The classical Chinese opera

Xian: The Wild Goose Pagoda of the 7 th century

Xian: A modern park next to the Wild Goose Pagoda (in the background).

Xian: A governmentally owned and operated factory for Classical Chinese furniture & decor. They do negotiate prices, though, as a part of the trend toward a “Market Economy”

Xian: The local opera

The Buddha in Leshan is the biggest in the world. It was carved in the mountain throughout the 8th century. It faces the river to protect against repeated floods.

Chengdu: In the Wenshu Monastery

Chengdu: The Old City

Chengdu, the Old City: The tea ceremony is played continuously behind the window of a tea store.

Chengdu, the Old City: The Sichuan opera.

Shanghai: The entrance to the market place surrounding the 16 th century Yu Yuan gardens

Shanghai: The 16 th century Yu Yuan gardens

Shanghai

Suzhou - Grand Canal and City Gate

Suzhou: the Humble Administrator’s Garden

Zhu Jiajiao village -- the local community’s temple (Taoist)

The “Mighty” Yangtze River, which is actually rather Muddy and Somber

A lovely secondary tributary to the Yangtze that is going to disappear as a consequence of the Yangtze giant dam project (the largest in the world)

A historical costumes and minorities show

Fengdu is called the “City of Ghosts” because its temples are filled with statues of demons

Guilin

Yangshuo

In the Yangshuo Bazaar

By the Li River, farmer family members at their rice field in their last effort after sunset

Li River after sunset: A traditional fisherman on a bamboo barge / boat is doing a highly efficient job using a kerosene lantern to attract fish and cormorant birds to catch them for him. (This Li River scenery appears in many Chinese paintings, and even on the current 2 Yuan money bill.)

Guangzhou (the historical Canton) -- a typical alley

Guangzhou -- the Temple of Six Banyan Trees