boats on lake houhai (beijing, china)

Posted by timothy sullivan (Tokyo, Japan) on 25 January 2009 in Architecture and Portfolio.

This is the first of a week-long series of photos from my trip to China about 4 years back; in honor of Chinese New Year on January 26, I thought I would post something somewhat fitting. (No dragon dances, sorry!)
Most of my trip was spent around the Beijing (Peking) area, and as I had gone there years ago, I fully expect that the area is completely different now; actually, during my trip there, I had the opportunity to see the starts of many major building sites--and the way the old parts of the city were being torn down to make room for the new. It seriously brings tears to my eyes sometimes, to think of how so many cultures believe that the past must be erased and paved over in the name of Progress; fortunately, certain places of cultural heritage were preserved.
Lake Houhai is one of the most famous spots for Beijing's nightlife (at least, for foreigners), having many outdoor cafes, restaurants, and clubs nearby.
While the lake itself is nice, my favorite part was going up to some of the temples to see the scenery in all its glory.

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