Beijing - 5 May  Into the mountains 

This is fairly typical of the main streets of Beijing - neat and tree lined. Here spruce but are species elsewhere. Not a scrap of paper to be seen; there are street cleaners dotted everywhere.

Today was a total change of scenery - we went to the mountains to visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites. We drove along and passed city roads and gardens ablaze with roses of all hues and avenues of leafy trees. The vegetation here is a total surprise. After a brief visit to a jade factory to see how the jade is carved - and to give us a buying opportunity ... ha! We headed 50 Km out of Beijing to the Ming tombs a huge complex covering 80 sq Km and nestled at the base of the Tianshou Mountain. The complex was built over a period of 200 years and houses 13 imperial tombs, 7 concubines’ tombs and one eunuch (eunuchs tended the Emperor and the affairs of the Forbidden City. Why Eunuchs? Because no man was allowed in the emperor’s palaces).

This is a stele marking the location of the tomb complex. It sits on the back of a tortoise-like creature, one of the nine sons of the dragon. The mythology here is ancient and fascinating and I am quite baffled trying to remember even a little of it.

We visited this complex. The tomb area of only one Emperor and his entourage is open.

This is carved marble, a ramp bridge entering another part of the tomb surrounds

Heavens gate. Seems appropriate!

Interesting place! Lindsay descended 100s of steps to the burial chamber of one of the emperors and his two empresses but I opted for a wander under the trees and yes, I found flowers - ‘banksia’ rose types plus!

Walking up one of the hills I had to stop to catch breath and there growing out of the wall was this dainty cluster. No idea of name but as they say- a rise by another other name!

Then it was off to the more distant mountains and the Mutianyu Wall, part of the Great Wall .
Marvellous to get out of the City and see some of the countryside. The air was filled with lightest baby duck-down wisps from the willow trees (they say) - and smog! We passed chestnut and walnut trees, elms dripping with clusters of tiny flowers and many fruit orchards - peach, apple, cherry. But to the Wall .... read on.

These pretty doodads are jade and adorned the headdress or belt of the royals. They would tinkle as they walked.

This is the Jade water fountain I mentioned.

The intricate work to make these life or family balls - balls within balls out of one piece of  jade is astonishing.

these are lamps made from the thinnest slivers of multi coloured jade.