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HANGZHOU
- CHINA
JOHN SLOAN
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Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province.
It is an ancient and important city which was the southern terminus of the
Grand Canal. It is on Hangzhou Bay and now is located on the east side of Xi Hu
Lake, in a formerly submerged area. The lake was formerly part of the bay and
open to the sea until in the 4th century the accumulation of silt blocked the
entrance. The city benefited greatly from the 6th century with the start of
construction of the Grand Canal. With the Tang Dynasty and greatly expanded
commerce the builders constructed a sea wall circa 910 AD to protect the city
from tides and storms. in those days the city was well fortified by walls that
are now long gone. It was during the Song Dynasty that the city developed
further. The nomad invasions destroyed the Chinese Empire's northern capital at
Kaifeng causing the Song to make Hangzhou their capital from 1138 to 1279, when
it was finally taken by the Mongols. Marco Polo visited the city and described
it as the most beautiful anywhere. The silk and brocade industries had been
flourishing for centuries. There were many market places filled with all sorts
of produce. The population exceeded a million. Unfortunately the city
fortifications - ramparts are no longer, even though they were rebuilt by the
Ming emperors, and the numerous canals are mostly filled in. The city was
severely damaged during the Taiping Rebellion in 1861-63. Today the city again
has a population of six million. It again benefits from the expansion of
overseas trade from nearby ports. It produces not only silk but also tea and
pharmaceuticals. Lacking significant ancient or medieval historical sites, the
chief attraction for its many tourist visitors is the lovely lake, Xi Hu. But
of interest also is the Yuefei Mu (Temple and Tomb of Yuefei) and the Buddhist
carvings at Feilai Feng and the temple of Lingyin Si.
Rather than try to include the history of Hangzhou here I refer readers to the
extensive Wikipedia article.
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The wealth of Hangzhou is readily apparent
even during the approach to the airport, even through the typical Chinese haze.
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The modern Hangzhou airport - note the row of
workers standing at the ready to service the aircraft.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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Driving into Hangzhou on modern highway we
are amazed at the large developments full of strikingly modern architecture.
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The city skyline is obscured by the constant
haze -but new construction is everywhere.
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The old ways exist along with the new.
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View from the hotel window over the city
toward the lake. - The Radisson Plaza Hotel in Hangzhou is another of the
spectacular first quality hotels in which we stayed in China. - email
hzrph1@mial.hz.zi.cn
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View from hotel to adjacent modern building
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View from hotel to adjacent modern building
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Rock garden in the hotel back yard.
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Rock garden in the hotel back yard.
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Sybil and Ruth at the Zheijang Provincial
Museum
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The museum lobby proclaims the historic
importance of its contents.
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A model of an ancient archeological site - It
was a ritual altar Yaoshan
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pottery - Yu - Hemudu
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Models showing neolithic and early bronze age
activities - weaving.
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Models showing neolithic and early bronze age
activities - weaving.
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Models showing neolithic and early bronze age
activities - skinning animal.
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Models showing neolithic and early bronze age
activities - sowing seed.
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Models showing neolithic and early bronze age
activities - starting fire.
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Models showing neolithic and early bronze age
activities - creating a pot.
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Bronze Ding - cooking pot - 770 - 476 BC -
Yue State.
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Gold He 770- 476 BC
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Swords - Zhougou from Yue state
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Spear point - Yue state
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Battle ax head - Yue state
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Bronze Nao - 1250 - 1066 BC
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Bronze Yong Bue - 1066 - 772 BC
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Brass tower 907 - 971 AD - fronm temple in
Feixin
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Colored Buddha - 960 - 1127 AD - Song Dynasty
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Seated statue of Guanyin 960 - 1127 - Song
dynasty
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Model of the Harmony Pagoda - Song dynasty
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Uniform of Qing dynasty Inlaid Red Banner
Regiment - see samples in the Military museun in Beijing
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Uniform of the Pure Yellow Banner Regiment -
Qing dynasty
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Uniform of the Pure Blue Banner Regiment -
Qing Dynasty
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uniform of general with dress helmet - Qing
Dynasty
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Uniform of Pure White Banner Regiment - Qing
dynasty
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Full dress helmet of Qing general
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Uniforms of Qing dynasty regiments.
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Model of Chinese with 1885 cannon
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Model of Chinese with 1885 cannon
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Wall plaque with discussion of the 1911
Revolution
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Various rifles and a mortar used in Chinese
Revolution
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Cannon made from pine logs and sandlewood.
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Bronze artifact
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Bronze weapons
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Bronze artifact
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The main building of the Zhejiang Provincial
Museum
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Building in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum
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Building in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum
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Building in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum
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Our clever taxi driver returned and is
waiting for us to leave the provincial museum even though we didn't think to
ask him - across the street is tourist shop next to the West Lake.
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The lobby of the Radisson Plaza Hotel
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Buildings in Hua Gang Park next to the lovely
West Lake
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Buildings in Hua Gang Park next to the lovely
West Lake - pools with multitude of large goldfish,
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Many goldfish in ponds at the Hua Gang
gardens park
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Buildings and goldfish in ponds at the Hua
Gang gardens park
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A peacock displays his finery at the Hua Gang
park
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Another building in the Hua Gang park
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The upper floors of a tall Lei Fang pagoda
rise above the trees across the lake. It was originally built in 975 AD but
deteriorated and was reconstructed in 2002=see
Wikipedia article
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We are greeted by a Chinese child who is also
enjoying the park
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Another building in the park
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We approach the West Lake - time to take a
cruise
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Boarding one of the many river craft - this
lake is a hugely popular stop for Chinese tourists.
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The upper part of the Lei Fang pagoda stands
out above the trees - another cruise boat passes before us on the West Lake
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Interesting decorative wall in the cabin of
our cruise boat.
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View of West Lake and one of the bridges over
causways.
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We are taking pictures of Chinese tourists
taking pictures of us.
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Happy tourists enjoying themselves just as we
are on adjacent cruise boat.
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The Hangzhou skyline is seen through the haze
across West Lake. The provincial museum we visited is on the shoreline.
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More of the Lei Fang pagoda is visible from
this point in the lake but the general haze persists.
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Another view of West Lake through the haze.
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Returning to the boat landing complex.
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The Lei Fang pagoda and small craft on the
lake
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The Lei Fang pagoda across West Lake
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Small craft on West Lake
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Small craft on West Lake
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The hillsides are covered with tea plants -
on our way to the tea museum in Longjing village
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Tour guide Kelly Wei and tourists outside the
tea museum. The Longjing tea (Dragon well) is very famous and often
counterfitted.
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More hillsides covered with tea plants
adjacent to the museum
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Close up view of tea plants.
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Statue of the man who made important research
into tea - Su Lou - he wrote the 'bible' about tea culture
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A demonstration of the art of fine tea
drinking. - This is Dragon Well Green Tea - small tea leaves from spring
harvest is best - a small amount of tea means you are welcome - three dips with
the pot means you are very welcome - don't cover the glass and don't use
boiling water. fermentation kills the vitamins - eat theleaves - 'they say' eat
the tea not drink' -
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The tea demonstration continues
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In the garden at the tea museum
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The tea shop section of the museum -
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The general sales store section of the museum
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A walk through the village from tea museum to
local lunch with family - the village is obviously wealthy from something -
tea?
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A walk through the village from tea museum to
local lunch with family - the village is obviously wealthy from something -
tea?
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A walk through the village from tea museum to
local lunch with family
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A walk through the village from tea museum to
local lunch with family
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A walk through the village from tea museum to
local lunch with family
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A walk through the village
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Our lucheon hosts at their home - Mei Jia Wu
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Outside the home of our lucheon hosts the
tourists prepare for the next adventure.
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Ruth is enjoying the walk through the
village.
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More modern homes in this wealthy village.
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More modern homes in this wealthy village.
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A shrine building at the entrance of the very
popular Lingyin Si temple (Monastery of he Hiddle Souls) - Feilai Feng mountain
peak (Peak that flew from afar) and Buddhist carvings park. The monastery was
founded in 326 by Buddhist monk from India. See
Wikipedia article
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A shrine building at the entrance of the very
popular Lingyin Si temple monastery - Feilai Feng peak and Buddhist carvings
park.
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Seated Buddha - there are 345 statues along
this narrow creek path to the temple complex. These date from the 10th century
on.
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There are many statues carved into the rock
wall or set in niches - above a small stream and amid a thick growth of
vegetation.
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More statues of Buddha inset in the rocks.
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This laughing Buddha may be the most famous
of all the statues along this wall. This one dates from the Song Dynasty.
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Another statue in its niche.
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Another statue in its niche.
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Another statue in its niche.
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More statues along the rock wall
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Here we catch sight of some of the tourists
who follow the path against the rock wall - it is on other side of the creek.
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Tourists admiring another seated Buddha.
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Tourists taking photo of another laughing
Buddha.
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Building in the monastery complex
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Building in the monastery complex
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Building in the monastery complex
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Statue and altar to a guardian Heavenly king
- in the Hall of the Heavenly Kings (Tianwang Dian)
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Statue and altar to a guardian Heavenly king
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Close up view of part of the temple ceiling
structure. - very dark inside and no flash allowed
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Close up view of part of the temple ceiling
structure. Taking these photos in very dark places without flash was difficult.
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Another elaborately carved and painted statue
in the temple
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Another guardian king in his dark place
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Another guardian king
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Another guardian king
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Another guardian king in very poor light.
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Interior wall of the temple
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Entrance to another temple in the Lingyin Si
Monastery
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A carved tower in the temple courtyard.
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Incense burning - josh sticks in use - in the
temple courtyard.
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The gold covered seated Buddha
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More statues in the Daxiongbao Dian
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There are at least 500 bronze statues of
Buddha's disciples in this building.
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There are at least 500 bronze statues of
Buddha's disciples in this building.
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Another temple in the monastery complex
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Another temple in the monastery complex with
courtyard in front
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More statues in another hall
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The gold covered Sakyamuni Buddha made of
camphor wood - over 66 feet tall in the Daxiongbao Dian (Precious Hall of the
Great Heroes).
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The gold covered Sakyamuni Buddha made of
camphor wood - over 66 feet tall in the Daxiongbao Dian (Precious Hall of the
Great Heroes).
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Roof line of another temple building
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Another Buddha in another temple room
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Another one of these demon guards.
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Another demon or guard
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Another demon or guard
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A rock garden on the monastery grounds
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Various statues and other gift items in the
monastery sales store.
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Various statues and other gift items in the
monastery sales store.
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Various statues and other gift items in the
monastery sales store.
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Various statues and other gift items in the
monastery sales store.
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Monastery building
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Monastery building
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Monastery building
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Monastery building
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Walking from hotel in downtown Hangzhou to
local market - another modern high rise apartment - note that each floor has
individual air conditioner.
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In this typical local market we found many
strange and seemingly exotic meal items.
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In this typical local market we found many
strange and seemingly exotic meal items.
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In this typical local market we found many
strange and seemingly exotic meal items. Were these some of the unknown items
we were eating each day during the extensive multi-course Chinese meals?
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In this typical local market we found many
strange and seemingly exotic meal items. Or was this that unknown dish?
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In this typical local market we found many
strange and seemingly exotic meal items.
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Fish anyone?
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Live chickens and ducks ready for the chef.
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A merchant proud of his wares.
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Ducks are a favorite dish
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So are chickens
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Looks something like the local country fair
here.
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Ooodles of noodles plus more.
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Shopping must be a delight in such an
extensive market
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More fish to suit every taste.
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More fish to suit every taste.
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More fish to suit every taste.
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Preparing goods for sale.
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The vegetables are just as exotic and the
fish.
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The vegetables are just as exotic and the
fish.
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The vegetables are just as exotic and the
fish.
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Melons and pinapples plus ??
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Fruit to add to the Dept of Agriculture food
pyramid
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View of a larger section of the produce
market
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Some kind of vegtable.
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View of apartments along a back street -
note the air conditioners.
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Modern hotel building
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More modern buildings.
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School children stopping for a snack on the
way home at small shop across from hotel.
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School children stopping for a snack on the
way home at small shop across from hotel.
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Yes, we're loving it too - One of the
Hangzhou McDonald locations.
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But Starbucks and Haagen-Dazs are not to be
slighted either.
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Local traffic is heavy in downtown Hangzhou.
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View of West Lake across apartment buildings
- from hotel window.
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View from hotel window toward the mountains
and tea country.
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View from hotel window in opposite direction
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Decoration in lobby of the hotel.
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Swimming pool on top floor of the Radisson
Plaza hotel
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Radisson Plaza hotel and adjacent buildings
in Hangzhou
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Entrance arch to Heafang Jie shopping street
in Hangzhou
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Walking down a Heafang Jie shopping street
in Hangzhou
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Ruth enjoying a joke with the laughing Buddha
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Laughing Buddha and many tiny helpers.
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Colorful shops in Hangzhou on Heafang Jie
street
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Colorful shops in Hangzhou
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Sedan chair from ancient China on display
along with model of horse.
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Tang Dynasty body armor - part of a display
for tourists' use.
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Another colorful shop in Hangzhou
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Lecture at the Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional
Chinese Pharmacy museum
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Lecture at the Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional
Chinese Pharmacy museum
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Lecture at the Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional
Chinese Pharmacy museum
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Lanterns in Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional
Chinese Pharmacy museum
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Statue of the medieval Chinese herbologist
who catalogued thousands of medicinal remedies.
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Herb garden at the Huqingyu Tang Medicine
Museum
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Memorial display about the founder of Chinese
herbology
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Balcony in the courtyard of the Huqingyu Tang
museum of Chinese medicine
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Balcony in the courtyard of the Huqingyu Tang
museum of Chinese medicine
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Display of carved wood art work on Hefang
Jie street
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Adniring the shops on Hefang Jie street
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Young tea waiters practicing their routines.
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Young tea waiters practicing their routines.
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Young tea waiters practicing their routines.
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Side alley off Hfang Jie street
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Elaborate swords for sale in a speciality
store.
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Display of more swords and daggers of
various sizes and styles.
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Reproduction of Tang Dynasty body armor
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Display of reproductions of Tang Dynasty
helmets, swords and other gear.
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A noted world travelers wearing Tang Dynasty
full armor
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Tang Dynasty warrior with sedan chair
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Tang Dynasty warrior relaxing after battle.
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Tang Dynasty cavalryman with his trusty
steed.
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Tang Dynasty cavalryman with his trusty
steed.
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Tang Dynasty warrior with Chinese pole ax
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Tang Dynasty warrior with Chinese pole ax
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Tang Dynasty warrior with Chinese pole ax
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More stores on Hefang Jie street
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More new buildings in Hangzhou - note the
construction methods
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Another modern building in Hangzhou
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Another modern building in Hangzhou - the
train station
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