Pictures of China

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Farmer in E China tries to fly homemade plane

news.cn

Zhang Xuelin, a farmer from Jinan, Shandong province, tries to fly his homemade plane on Nov 29, 2012. [Photo/CFP]

Zhang Xuelin, a farmer from Jinan, Shandong province, tries to fly his homemade plane, attracting hundreds of villagers on Nov 29, 2012.

After two hours, Zhang failed to send his plane into the air. Zhang spent almost a year making the plane, which is 3.4 meters long and weighs more than 230 kilograms.

Zhang said no matter what the result is, he must try to fly it. "Though simple, it's my dream, better than playing cards," he said.

Zhang has long cherished the dream. He dropped out of school at 12 but he has always been fond of studying all kinds of aircrafts.

Years ago, Zhang got the idea of making a plane when he saw news online that someone made a plane by himself. He started his project at the beginning of 2012.

Source: chinadaily.com.cn

 

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Chili harvest in 河南 内黄, Neihuang， Henan Province

 

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Jiaju （Tibetan）village, Sichuan province

 

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Jiaju village continued。

 

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Nanjing University of Science and Technology, automatic weapons structure course, AK47, M16, 95type, 03type, and other 30 kind of rifle

 

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Nanjing's super sized China-blue "Porcelain" Vase display for the festive season

2012年12月1日，一座创意“青花瓷”圣诞装饰在南京德基广场亮相。据介绍，这座高10米、直径达6米的“青花瓷”圣诞装饰，以抽象青花瓷瓶的造型为设计出发点，将中国古典元素与西方节日进行融合，寓意平安圆满，向顾客传递和美的节日气氛。随着圣诞节的临近，江苏省南京市许多商家已经纷纷布置圣诞景观，为即将到来的圣诞节和岁末销售营造气氛。图为南京德基广场搭建的“青花瓷”圣诞装饰显得格外醒目，透着温馨、宁静的和谐意境。 (颜闽&#33322


December 1, 2012, a creative "blue and white" Christmas decorations in Nanjing Deji Plaza debut. According to reports, this high 10 meters, diameter of up to 6 meters of "blue and white" Christmas decoration, abstract blue and white porcelain bottle's shape design starting point, the Chinese classical elements with Western festivals conducted fusion, meaning peace satisfactorily, passing beauty festive atmosphere to the customer . As Christmas approaches, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, many businesses already have arranged Christmas landscape, to create an atmosphere for the upcoming Christmas and the end of the year sales. Pictured Nanjing Deji Plaza structures "blue and white" Christmas decorations look eye-catching, reveals a warm, peaceful and harmonious mood. (Yan Minhang)

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The Great Wall of China


Jiankou 箭扣 is our next stop as we moving eastward in Huairou District 怀柔区 of Beijing Municipality. It's 73 km from Beijing and 10 km northeast of Mutianyu GW. This section is a photographic hotspot due to its unique style, steep mountains and beautiful scenery.


A map of of all the Great Wall passes near Beijing

A video

Because of the terrain difficulties in Jiankou you probably need more than a few days to absorb the historical meanings. Here's an inexpensive and homey accommodation.

Zhengbeilou 镇北楼 991m

A closeup look of Zhengbeilou

A distance view, Zhengbeilou on the left

The section of the wall going down

 

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The Great Wall of China


Jiankou 箭扣's Jiuyanlou 九眼楼 1177m

A view of Jiankou from Jiuyanlou

Niujiaobian 牛角变 Tower 1065m at the top

View from Niujiaobian toward Zhengbeilou

Some pictures

 

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The Great Wall of China


Jiankou Great Wall hiking toward Mutianyu 慕田峪, our next stop

Finally we reach Mutianyu 慕田峪, but with 454 steps going up to one of a tower we might as well find a place to rest for awhile

 

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The Great Wall of China


Mutianyu 慕田峪 section of the Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi and was rebuilt in 1569 till today most parts of it are well preserved. It has the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall. There are 22 watchtowers on this 2,250-metre-long stretch while the Mutianyu Pass consists of 3 watchtowers.


A map

An overall view

"Boy, it's hot in China", Bill moans.

Zhengguantai 正关台 is located at the lowest point of the Mutianyu Great Wall composes of three connected towers

 

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The Great Wall of China


Mutianyu 慕田峪' Tower 11 is not a free standing tower. It's a spur off the main wall and extra walls were build for further protections. the funny thing is you can't walk from one section to another, you have to climb in and out.

You climb out from here

and climb back in

Some protection

 

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The Great Wall of China


Mutianyu 慕田峪 Lianhuachi 莲花池 at the top of the mountain

Going up to the tower

Reach the tower

Inside the tower

Other pictures

An idea how tall the walls are

 

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The Great Wall of China


Mutianyu 慕田峪

DO NOT PASS THIS POINT

Some wall inscriptions

 

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The Great Wall of China


Our next stop Jinshanling Great Wall 金山岭長城 lies between our last stop, Jiankou 箭扣, and our next one, Simatai 司马台. These three sections run from the west toward east and after that turn sharply south. Jinshanling was built by the Qing began at 1570 and is about 125km northeast of Beijing. This section of the Great Wall is 10.5 km long with 5 passes, 67 towers and 2 beacon towers and a cable car has been constructed to carry visitors to the highest peaks.


Jinshanling is on the top right corner of this map

An extensive map of Jinshanling, note everything are clearly marked

The main entrance of a nice hotel

Entrance to the apartment suites

Individual apartment or hotel room

Comfortable twin-bed room at relative low price

Looking east Jinshanling foreground, Gubeikou background

Looking west Jinshanling foreground, Simatai background