Here is another entry for this week’s Daily Press Photo Challenge.
The picture was taken in a park in Beijing.
Autumn was in the air and the light shone through the leaves.
The leaves looked colorful to me, in fact, I could visualize some looking like butterflies dancing the sky.
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Yellow is my favorite color.
These photos were taken some 2 years ago in Beijing.
Autumn foliage was everywhere in the rural districts of Beijing.
This was the first time we visited the Hongluo temple – we were immediately captured by what we have seen.
Yellow foliage with the temple in the background.
We are already missing it. If opportunities arise, we would like to visit it again in Autumn!
This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge is Nighttime.
Here are 2 photos taken some two years ago in Bejing – the National Stadium also more widely known as the Bird’s Nest stadium on account of its look.
The stadium was illuminated with lights the colors of which changes with time.
Below is an introduction of the stadium from Wikipedia:
Located at the Olympic Green, the stadium cost US428 million. The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in April 2003 after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. The design, which originated from the study of Chinese Ceramics, implemented steel beams in order to hide supports for the retractable roof; giving the stadium the appearance of a bird’s nest. Leading Chinese artist Ai WeiWei was the artistic consultant on the project
It was late Autumn and we were strolling in the gardens of Xiang Shan in Beijing.
As always, it appeared hazy in Beijing. That didn’t bother me, it just added to the atmosphere.
We walked past this lake in Xiang Shan and were surprised by its beauty.
There were weeping willows by the side of the lake, this together with the pavilion formed a perfect picture.
We were happy to find this beautiful corner in the garden, but the truth is there are so many beautiful corners in the garden.
We were there at a perfect time!
Last year, I provided an update in the “About” page on my activities in retirement.
This is about time I should provide another update.
I have been learning Chinese Calligraphy for slightly over one year now, I am struggling with learning my Spanish grammar and I have also started learning a special form of TaiChi known as the “Water Flowing” form which does not emphasize on the mechanical external form of the exercise – it focuses on the internal work of the body (really hard to explain and learn!).
This week, I have spent over one hour writing the attached calligraphy. This is for handing over to my teacher for his comment coming Saturday. In the past year, I have learned writing in four different fonts of the Chinese characters. The one posted is the simplified free-flowing form. Every week, my teacher will tell me what are the problems with my writing and how I should improve.
Have also attended some Chinese calligraphy exhibitions locally.
What I enjoyed most was visiting the BaiWangShan garden in Beijing where they have some calligraphy carved in black slate for appreciation.
The slates have poems written by scholars carved into them. It was not only the calligraphy but also the Autumn foliage in the gardens which added to the poetic mood.
With the different Chinese fonts now readily available from the computer / internet, less and less people are learning or practising Calligraphy now.
It is foreseeable that Chinese Calligraphy could become a dying art as well!
My last post shows the gold / yellow / orange foliage at Hong Luo (Red Snail) Temple at Beijing.
A couple of blogging friends requested to view pictures showing the snail stone carving in more detail.
Near the main entrance of the temple, there are a pair of big red snails – made from concrete and colored red.
I rather like the stone carved snails. In this picture, you will see some carved snails, some on top of the parapet posts. In the background, again, there are foliage leaves of various colors; although they are not the main subject in focus.
Also shown above is a picture of more foliage leaves and stone carved snails at the temple.
Please enjoy !
This week, Ed’s challenge is Trees / Fall Colors.
My eyes were dazzled by the colors as I was viewing the trees/ leaves against bright sunlight at 
Hung Luo Temple, Beijing about this time last year.
The whole picture was filled with colored foliage, some in gold, yellow and also orange too.
The trees seemed to have dominated the whole picture. Not so noticeable in the picture are parts of the roofs of and entrance to the temple, some steps up to the temple and a stone carved snail (this explains the name of the temple – red snail temple). However, unless you were there, the details are some small to be discernible.
The Autumn leaves were indeed a feast for the eyes!
