Summer Palace in Winter

On Wednesday, we had a mostly resting day. It seems like we can't manage to go see sights every day because we have to recover from all the walking! Beijing really takes a lot out of you, and is best seen a little at a time!

On Thursday, I had my eight o'clock class and then we went and saw the Summer Palace. Of course it is winter, but the Summer Palace still put on a fine showing. The big lake was all frozen over, and it was a white, misty day, which actually made the scenery very romantic.




We walked past the marble barge and on around to the other side, where there was a thin strip of land running all the way through the lake, adorned by six different bridges (actually seven, but one was too plain to make the count). Here is our favorite bridge, the Jade-Belt Bridge. It was very high and steep, and makes yet another of those rare pictures where Colin looks small.


Here, to make up for it is one where Colin looks both very tall and very satisfied!


We walked out on the ice and I found part of a lotus pod.


Here are three views of the scenery on the other side of the lake, two with the marble barge.




A few more ice pictures.




It was a very picturesque and romantic day, and although we got thirsty (water water everywhere...), we ended up feeling very satisfied about the whole thing.