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Beihai Northwest

ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 22

Beihai Northwest

Still with a lengthy list of unseen places in Beijing despite a month in the city, on my last day I returned to Beihai Park to be outside in a garden. The northwest section contains temples, pavilions, memorials, and a large lake-front walkway. Restoration produces a deceptive blend of ancient and contemporary sensibilities. Real people sing and dance in antique pavilions. The Buddhist Temples are active sites of worship. The lake is full of boats even on a Monday at midday.

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

dragons, lions, gate — red, yellow, green — repeat

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

high-roofed dark interiors are comfortably cool despite temperatures outside in the mid-90s F

Beihai Northwest

giant bronze urns with paper money and rain water

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

Nine Dragon Screen, 1756, 635 dragons total, one of three glazed tile walls of this type in China — defense system against evil spirits

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

Screen of Iron Shadow, Yuan Dynasty, intermediate volcanic conglomerate, clouds and chimera patterns

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

Beihai Northwest

Five Dragon Pavilion, 1602, with yellow duck boats

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