Doug's Photos

In September 2024 we had a 20 day tour of China. Highlights included Beijing, Xi'an where the terracotta army is, Chengdu, home of the Giant Panda research center then a Yangtzer River cruise followed by a bullet train to Shanghai.

Click here to see some of the best pictures from this trip, or click one of the pictures below to see more pictures from that part of the trip.

Below is the map showing where we took photos. Click the picture to see an interactive map. Click any of the pins in the interactive map to see more details on that photo and a link to the blog entry.

Sep 10 to 13, 2024 - Beijing

There are actually a number of spots where you can visit the Great Wall of China. We visited two sections on different days.

Tiananmen Square was originally designed and built in 1651 during the Qing Dynasty. Tiananmen itself, the "Gate of Heavenly Peace" which is the entrance to the Forbidden City was built earlier (approx. 1417–1420) during the Ming Dynasty. The square was significantly expanded to its current massive size in 1958.

The Forbidden City was the residence of Chinese emperors from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms.

Click the picture above to see an album with additional sights of the Drum Tower and other areas near the Forbidden City. The album also shows the Peking duck from that nights dinner.

This was the second section of the Great Wall that we visited.

Click the picture below to see more pictures from this day including a visit to the Ming Dynasty Tombs.

Sep 14 to 16 - Xian

On the 14th we flew to Xian, home of the world famous Terra Cotta Soldiers. On the 14th we visited the Wild Good Pagoda. On the 15th we visited the Terra Cotta Soldiers before boarding a high speed train to Chengdu.

Sep 16 to 17 - Chengdu

We started the day in Xian, visiting the ancient Xian city wall, before boarding a high speed train to Chendu, home of the Panda Research Center.

The People's Park was on our way to visit a Mahjong parlor. In this park parents post the "resume" of their single sons and daughters, hoping to find a good match for marriage.

Sep 18 to 21, 2024 - Yangtze River Cruise

Today we boarded a Yangtze River cruise to take use from Chongqing to Yichang and the Three Gorges Dam.

This was the same scene as the previous picture but from aboard the ship and at night, just before departure.

Sep 19, 204 - Fengdu

Today we went to the Fengdu Ghost City. Notice how the dock allows for great variations in river height. The Yangtze River level can vary significantly, with an average annual fluctuation of roughly 65 feet.

The main attraction for the day was a visit to the Fengdu Ghost City. Click the picture below to see more of the figures and architecture from the Fengdu Ghost City.

That evening we went to a large scale outdoor show which included live actors and horses plus 3D holograms, fire and water effects. The show depicts the Feng Yan San Guo, also known as "War Fire of Three Kingdoms" a legendary tale from the Three Kingdoms period of 220-280 AD. Click the picture below to see more pictures from the impressive show.

Sep 20, 2024 - Qutang and Wuxia Gorges

Sept 21, 2024 - Three Gorges Dam

Today we visited the Three Gorges Dam before taking a train to Shanghai.

Sep 22 to 23, 2024 - Shanghai

The Shanghai Smart Eye is on the 126th floor of the Shanghai Tower. It's part of a custom designed electromagetic system to reduce building sway and stabilizes the tower against strong winds and seismic activity.

For visitors of the Shanghai Tower it is the highest art space on earth.

Sep 24, 2024 - Hangzhou

Today we took a train from Shanghai to Hangzhou for a day tour.

It's estimated that there are 300 to 470 rock carved Buddhist statues in Lingyin Temple.

Sep 7 to 25 - Whats App Bonus Pictures

Below are pictures from WhatsApp shared by various people in our tour. Because WhatsApp removes embedded information, including date taken, they are shown in the order people posted them which is not the same as the order they were taken. Click any of the pictures below to see a large photo album of WhatsApp pictures.

Click one of the pictures above to see more pictures for that part of the trip.

Spent most of August 2024 driving across country in our Class B RV to a variety of places including Twin Falls Idaho, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain National Park, Chapman National Forest Campground, Grand Junction, Bryce Canyon, Great Basin National Park, Mammoth and Yosemite.

Click here to see some of the best pictures from this trip, or click one of the pictures below to see more pictures from that part of the trip.

Aug 10, 2024 - Twin Falls to Colter Bay

After two days of leisurely driving, we had reached Twin Falls Idaho. I hadn't been expecting much but I was mistaken! Twin Falls turned out to be very scenic.

Oxbow Bend and Mount Moran - Grand Teton NP

Aug 11, 2024 - Yellowstone National Park

We had two nights in Coulter Bay in Grand Tetons NP, which gave us a full day to visit Yellowstone NP, just to the north. Not enough time, but still we manged to see quite a bit.

Abyss Pool on Yellowstone Lake West Thumb

Aug 13, 2024 - Fort Collins

Our primary focus in Fort Collins wasn't photography but beer (at least for me). Fort Collins is a great beer town and we'd planned to visit New Belgium Brewing. Instead we first went to Funkwerks (since closed) who recommended The Farmhouse for barrel aged beers, among my favorites.

The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm - Beer Flight

Aug 14 to 15, 2024 - Rocky Mountain National Park

At 11,796 feet, the Rocky Mountain National Park Alpine Visitor Center is the highest National Park visitor center. A short path lets you go a bit higher, 12,005 feet. That's not a lot of elevation gain but at that altitude it sure feels like it!

Aug 19, 2024 - Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

Aug 21, 2024 - Grand Junction & Colorado National Monument

Not only does Grand Junction have a nearby scenic drive through Colorado National Monument, but is a locus for some great beer brewing!

Aug 23, 2024 - Bryce Canyon

We camped out the night before, hoping for an early start to catch that perfect morning light. Instead, we woke up to a gray, drizzling overcast. We’d almost given up when the weather shifted—the rain let up, the sun broke through the clouds, and we were treated to some awesome views under incredibly dramatic skies.

These are just two of the many pictures we took. Click either picture to see more.

Aug 24, 2024 - Bryce to Great Basin

If not for this stop at the very small Red Canyon Visitor Center we wouldn't have really seen much this day.

Aug 25, 2024 - Great Basin National Park

Unfortunately the road up to Wheeler Peak Campground was closed so we weren't able to visit the Bristlecone or other scenic areas of the park. Luckily we were able to get tickets for the timed entry tour to Lehman Caves.

Aug 27, 2024 - Mammoth Lakes

We took the gondola ride to the top of Mammoth Mountain, elevation 11,053 feet. Used primarily for skiing, it makes for a good hike down though because we hadn't brought our trekking poles, we didn't do the hike that day. It's about a 3,000 foot elevation change.

Click the picture below to see some of the panorama shots from the peak of Mammoth Mountain.

Aug 28, 2024 - Mammoth to Yosemite

Today we saw a lot of sights driving from our campsite at Mammoth Shady Rest Campground to our next nights stop at Hodgdon Meadows Campground in Yosemite. Along the way we stopped at Mono Lake, Tenaya Lake and Clouds Rest.