In 2014, I interned in Beijing, China at the Chinese Academy of Urban Planning and Design for two months. During that time, I did some traveling and visited some truly remarkable sites. One that stands out more than most is the Summer Palace. Throughout history, it has gone through many changes and a number of sections have burned. But, it has survived and thrived. In 1998, unesco places the summer palace on the world heritage list, and called it:
"a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design".
"a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design".
Suzhou Street – A commercial corridor within the Summer Palace, home to over 60 stores and shops.
One thing you'll often see in China are groups of people, usually the elderly, exercising in public spaces. I was told that this community building activity happens at the same time every day. A small device will play music, sometimes with a voice counting from one to eight in Mandarin, and everyone will execute the same moves at the same time. This was truly one of the most amazing things I witnessed in China: an active, mobile, fit and healthy senior citizen population.
Zhuanlunzang (Revolving Archive) – This was where Buddhist scriptures were kept and where the emperors and empresses went to read those scriptures and pray.
The Tower of Buddhist Incense
Kunming Lake (from Longevity Hill)