#FriFotos: White, and a Taste of Posts to Come

• 
• Tweet
• Sharebar

• Tweet

Ni Hao, Alex here!

This week’s #FriFotos’ theme is White, so I thought this was a perfect opportunity to share a photo from China along with providing a taste of things to come. After a whirlwind two weeks in China sans Google, Facebook, or Twitter, I’m back. The trip to the far east was outstanding – China blew away my expectations as a destination – each locale I visited offered a unique window into Chinese history, attractions, and culture. Below are some (black and) White photos from the garden city Hangzhou. The photos showcase Six Harmony Pagoda (otherwise known as the Liuhe Pagoda) in Hangzhou, China.

The pagoda sits perched on a bluff overlooking the Qiantang River and was originally constructed in the Northern Song Dynasty (960 – 1127 AD). Despite the photo’s color scheme, it’s actually a vibrant place. Old willow trees blow on the banks of the river. Every few minutes, a Buddhist patron rings the enormous and resonating bell hidden in the mountain’s footpaths. Unfamiliar birds swoop in the ominous structure’s shadow. The building is large, but the climb isn’t so arduous.

The name Liuhe derives from the six Buddhist ordinances. It is believed the pagoda was built to calm the raging tidal bore of the Qiantang River, and to serve as a navigational aid.

Have you visited Hangzhou? What were your impressions there?

This is the inaugural post of my China series. Video coming soon.