圆明园 The Summer Palace Ruins

April, 2007

Beijing University (Bei Da)

We walked to the famous Beijing Da Xue, or Peking University, Beijing University known as BeiDa

It had very beautiful with old buildings, a lake and a smiling dragon with big teeth. also lots of geeks.

It has an entrance with traditional Chinese architecture and Beijing Da Xue in gold Chinese caligraphy
against red

When you enter there is a white traditional Chinese bridge over a lake with orange fish swimming chaotically

There is a perfectly manicured green square of grass. Most of the university has modern buildings but there are a few traditional ones. The library (I think) has an imposing dark roof with strong dark grey upturned eves. It reminds me a bit of vikings horns. The style like that in the Tang Dynasty (think Xian or Japan).

If you walk along the North Side of the university you will come across almost a forest of thick trees and a winding path that snakes past an almost oval lake - Wen Ming Hu (which is famous across the country) THE NAMELESS LAKE

(although more recently I learned some more Chinese and came to suspect that it might actually mean the Renowned Lake---- I will have to check with someone. Perhaps people felt it is too arrogant to tell foreigners the true name)

Students, academics, the elderly stroll along this path in quiet contemplation, some people ride past on their bicycle with a heavy backpack full of books.

In the background is a tall erect pagoda. it has about ten stories and little eves on each floor. it is from an Indian architectual influence. and today its image is reflected in the lake. a bit of land just into the lake and sitting on this small inturn is a Chinese man who is dressed in a white business shirt, practical glasses, his eyes stare into the lake and his hand touches his head almost like the statue "The Thinker"


Ruins of the Summer Palace.

It has winding paths, willow trees, bridges. We went on a row boat through a massive lake and then winding canals out into another big lake. the sun was shining.

A little boy at the restaurant was going on to his dad "meigguoren" (american)
Im sick of this so I turned around and said Wo bu shi Meigguoren (im not american)
he talked a bit. i said australian. anyway he was raving on about australia. so were other people

he said in chinese "you have very beautiful blue eyes"


i also heard someone in a boat say "waiguoren" outside country person
someone walked past the canal and said "bairen" white person.



might go to bed now. sweet dreams

ps went to the ruins of the summer palace but got so distracted on the boat that we forgot to see the ruins. another time. will post some photos