PHOTOS FROM CHINA 2009

HANGZHOU:

Water taxi at south end of the Grand Canal

Dance class along the canal.

Restored merchant's mansion: the main entry courtyard.

Setting up for the solar eclipse.

Waiting for the clouds to go away.

Totality.

SICHUAN:

One VIP ("very important panda")

Sanxingdui museum of bronze era masks.

Remnent of old town near Leshan.

The Great Buddha of Leshan, keeping rivers from flooding.

Start of trail up Emei-shan, one of the major Buddhist mountains of China.

End of the trail, rain and fog limit customers for "have your photo taken here" photographers.

Lunch is served at a temple.

Shaanxi Guild Hall in Zigong.

Market in Zigong: selling hair.

The Sleeping Buddha at Dazu.

The Buddha's eye and a mourner.

Apprentice at Liu's workshop.

BEIJING:

Zhufeng's sister Zhuchun and her Buick.

Welcome to Beijing family dinner.

Panjiayuan Market

Palace Museum

National Theater for the Performing Arts.

Fondly known as "The Egg"

TONGZHOU:

The northern end of the Grand Canal.

Zhuchun, Zhuwen, Zhufeng, Zhuxian and friend.

GUBEIKOU:

A section of the Great Wall.