Earth Is Boring: Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park is just north of the Forbidden City in Beijing. I keep talking about the Forbidden City as a reference point, but I still have not actually been inside. There is a lovely square of Old Beijing with the Forbidden City at its center, Tian'anmen directly south, Qianmen south of Tian'anmen, Di'anmen Snack Street to the east, Old What Bar to the west, a moat surrounding it an all sides, and Jingshan Park to the north. The photo below is of the west entrance to Jingshan Park.

The day I went to Jingshan Park was a packed, ridiculous day. Lots of wandering: sometimes aimlessly, sometimes purposefully, sometimes uncertainly. Jingshan Park was a purposeful walk as my conspirator had been there before and knew where to go. The walk was especially purposeful because the sun was setting, rapidly (we spent too long enjoying our meal and drinking Tsingtao), and the whole amazing part of visiting Jingshan Park is the incredible you find waiting for you at the top of a very large hill under a very high pagoda.

The first of the photos I have from making the walk up to the top of the hill is below. I don't remember the sky being so crisp and red, but I love this photo. I haven't found the name of the building in the center with the large spire. The mountains form a beautiful shadow and seem to be cradling the skyline of the city. The spire jutting centrally reminds me I'm in an unpredictable place, not cradled at all.

The top of the hill is a 360 view of Beijing. There are so many spots to choose from to take photos from every angle and attempt to capture every moment and version of the setting sun. Above is the moat surrounding the Forbidden City, the main attraction of which is covered by some leaves. Below it is uncovered.

While most of the people I saw were photographers, professional seeming and amateur, there were a few people there for the view and the silence, too.

Some, maybe, were there for both.

There were also cameras watching the people with their cameras.

On the west side of the Forbidden City, and on the walk back towards a train station to the north of the city, in the middle of nothing else at all, is a punk bar called The Old What Bar. We stopped for some beers, people watching, and atmosphere.