The "Beijing Suite" at the Peninsula Hotel in Beijing, where we stayed. This was one of the best hotels we have ever experienced, so I thought we would show it to you. Highly recommended if you are looking for a hotel in Beijing!

Decorations to make sure passers-by see the entrance to this shopping mall

Entrance to Temple of Heaven Park

Women doing tai chi in Temple of Heaven Park

Calligraphy on the paving stones, Temple of Heaven Park

Round Altar at Temple of Heaven Park, where prayers would be offered.

Dragon spouts around the Round Altar, Temple of Heaven Park

Round Altar, Temple of Heaven

View from the top of the Round Altar, Temple of Heaven

Gates leading to the Imperial Vault of Heaven

Gates, Temple of Heaven Park

Dragon detail on wall between gates

Gates leading to the Imperial Vault of Heaven

Imperial Vault of Heaven

Imperial Vault of Heaven

Detail of painted dragons, Imperial Vault of Heaven

Imperial Vault of Heaven

Building near Imperial Vault of Heaven

Interior of the Imperial Vault of Heaven

Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest, in the rain

Colorful umbrellas ascending the steps of the Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest

Interior of the Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest

Building at the Tomb of Emperor Yongle (Chang Ling Tomb), one the Ming Tombs near Beijing

Building on the grounds of Tomb of Emperor Yongle

Hall of Eminent Favor, Tomb of Emperor Yongle

Entrance to Hall of Eminent Favor, Tomb of Emperor Yongle

Statue of Emperor Yongle (a/k/a Zhu Di)

Items from the Ming Dynasty are on display inside the Hall of Eminent Favor

Robe worn by the Emperor -- yellow being a color reserved exclusively for him

Robe worn by the emperess

Detail of railing-top pillars, Hall of Eminent Favor

Ling Xing Gate, with Chinese tourists about to pass through. This is significant, as one's soul is said to depart the body when one goes into the gate. So, when you come back through the gate, you must ask your soul to come back.

Soul Tower, Tomb of Emperor Yongle

Monument inside Soul Tower, Tomb of Emperor Yongle

Roadside fruit stand

Buddha statue in a restaurant in Beijing

A woman dancing in Temple of Heaven Park

Roof detail, Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest (this time on a sunny day)

Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest

Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest

Building near the Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest

Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest with miraculously no tourists in the picture (this took patience!)

Dragon detail on the eaves of the Temple of Prayer for Good Harvest

Temple of Heaven complex

Dragon detail on a wall, Temple of Heaven Park

Figures guard each corner of each roof in the Temple of Heaven complex

Temple of Heaven Park

Dragon pillar atop a railing, Temple of Heaven Park

Beijing at night is a riot of neon signs and flashing lights

Area near Peninsula Hotel at night

Statue at Mao Zedong Memorial, Tiananmen Square

Statue at Mao Zedong Memorial, Tiananmen Square

Monument in Tiananmen Square

Beijing Olympics Countdown Clock, Tiananmen Square

Flowers and a great wall replica for an upoming celebration, Tiananmen Square

Gate of Heavenly Peace, the entrance to the Forbidden City

Gate of Heavenly Peace, with stone lions and a portrait of Chairman Mao

Gate of Heavenly Peace

Canons inside the Forbidden City

Throngs of tourists, Forbidden City

Tower on Meridian Gate, Forbidden City

Meridian Gate, Forbidden City

Forbidden City

"River" inside the Forbidden City

Not sure what is going on here ...

Forbidden City

Forbidden City

A Throne Room in the Forbidden City

Detail on a water storage vessel, Forbidden City

Roof detail, Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Lion, Forbidden City

Dragon spout, Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Tortoise statue, Forbidden City

Throne room, Forbidden City

Forbidden City buildings, with yellow roofs to symbolize the Emperor

Water storage vessel, Forbidden City

Incense burner, Forbidden City

Lion statue, Forbidden City

Pedicabs arrayed near the Drum and Bell Towers, ready for Hutong tours

Narrow alley in a Beijing Hutong

Children playing in the Hutong

Chasing tourists is apparently more fun ...

Shops and pedestrians in the Hutong

Pedicab traffic jam in the Hutong

Moments like this made you feel like you were on a Disney "Hutong Ride" -- very touristy

Residents of the Hutong gathering on the street and ignoring the parade of tourists

Hutong street gathering to pay a game

Drum Tower

Chaoyang Chinese Acrobats Theater

Chaoyang Chinese Acrobats Theater

Answering the question of how many women can ride on a single bicycle, Chaoyang Chinese Acrobats Theater

Tiananmen Square at night

Tiananmen Square at night

Gate of Heavenly Peace at night

Gate of Heavenly Peace at night

Wangfujing Street at night