Sun Worship [6/23]

There's a small mound outside the Temple of Heaven where the Emperor made his devotions to the Sun during the winter solstice. It is, of course, a mandatory photo opp.

Sports in the Forbidden City [6/21]

Mysteriously, a rusty basketball hoop:

and a couple of bored soldiers playing badminton:

Group Hug in the Forbidden City [6/21]

Shade

Umbrellas are the universal accessory for the Chinese tourists to stay out of the sun,

though Aaron asked me to take a picture of this alternative.

Legend of Kung Fu [6/22]

Marty had arranged for us to see this martial arts extravaganza primarily for the kids. No photos of the performance, of course, but here's the venue

and cast:

My personal favorite part was the warning at the beginning, when I did feel compelled to break the no photo rule:

Quarantine [6/20]

The quarantine check for H1N1 was as vigorous as reported; we filled out a long form attesting to healthiness and providing our addresses for the next 7 days, and duly took prophylactic tylenol an hour before landing. A team of masked and gloved people took all our temperatures before we left the plane.

In the airport we went through another screening and handed in the forms before going through immigration.

There were people from the plane pulled aside, and Gloria reports that on her last tour, someone was rounded up at the hotel based on the form she'd filled out.

Period Dress [Beijing]

There was a Mao impersonator at the Great Wall; Aaron wanted a picture with him, but we were rushing and assumed he'd still be there when we climbed back; he was not, alas. But Aaron did meet these ladies, acting as hostesses in a restaurant:

The restaurant sent this poor woman out looking for us, hobbling along on four inch platform heels designed like boat keels to mimic bound feet:

]

The only other place so far where we've seen period dress was in one gallery of the Summer Palace, where we ran into a couple of imperial concubines.

They were separated only a few feet from these guys, who were not in costume.