8.China - Japan Trip : DAY EIGHT : BEIJING SIGHT SEEING .Day 8.Part I - Govt Jade Factory.

DAY EIGHT- 15 May 2015. BEJING - SIGHT SEEING.

Part I - Govt Jade Factory.

MAP OF SIGHTS SEEN ON DAY EIGHT : 15 MAY 2105 .

This is the screen shot of the map . To see interactive map , go to https://goo.gl/T5TNCr
OR
https://goo.gl/T5TNCr
copy the link Below and paste it in URL bar.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&authuser=0&mid=zhhZ6ZYYuJgw.kF3O15TjpoKY

This will open interactive map.Any clarifications about how to use this map , just send me a mail.

This was our second day in Beijing .  
This day Government Jade Factory , Balding section if the Great wall Of China , Summer Palace in Beijing City and the Olympic Village were the main sights to be seen on the day's itenerary 

Personally we go on these trips to see the historical sites,world heritage sites monuments,beautiful natural scenery, etc and experience the Cultural atmosphere of that country , cities etc . However in our every group trip the local guide makes it a point to take you to at least one Mall , Shopping lane , Tea shop etc for shopping . Priti and I are not much interested in shopping and we had said so many times . However it is quite surprising , at least it was for us , that some people come on these trips only for shopping and they are very serious about it.If shopping is missing from day's itinerary,they raise a hue & cry and ensure that the shopping trip for the day is not missed.
But to carry on with the travelog,
First place to be visited was the Governmant Jade Factory . My knowledge about Jade was that it was considered a gemstone , was green in colour and used by Emperors of China . The factory was about 50 odd kms from our hotel and took us about an hour in the light morning traffic . First look of The Government Jade Factory was quite all right .

Government Jade Factory. 

        
Another view .Government Jade Factory. 

Main entrance . Flanked by impressive 

looking Lion Statues . No , they were not in jade but in white marble :-)

 Immediately after entry , one could see the craftmen creating Jade jwellery , statuttes and other art objects for sale . It was facinating to watch them work with electrical drills , cutters , shaping and polishing tools . One marvelled at their expertise and delicate touch with the tools in creating such beautiful and some really delicate looking jewellery and small statuettes.

Mastercraftman at work.  very intrciate & tricky work.It was very facinating to watch them work . Converting a lump of Jade in a thing of beauty!!!

Mastercraftman at work. Balls within Balls ,

Inside the hall , and display area was even more impressive . It was huge .The floor area was full of display cabinets loaded with Jewelly , statuettes , display and decorative items etc. There were statues of various sizes . Some so big they they had to be displayed on the ground.I saw articles of colours other than green and had doubt whether these different coloured items were also made of jade . My doubt was answered by one of the salesman . I was informed that "Jade is found in various colours .Though , Green Jade retains its popularity .Lavender jade continues to be admired and adored. The value and desire for red jade, yellow jade, black jade, and especially ice jade continues to increase . Not only this , there are about 49 shades in various colours of Jade with different translucence and texture . To know more details go to this link .

THESE PHOTOS GIVE SOME IDEA OF THE HUGENESS OF THE STORE 

WITH THESE PHOTOS GET SOME IDEA OF THE VARIETY OF ITEMS.

Pure white Jade.






SOME DISPLAY ITEMS TOO BIG TO BE KEPT ON / IN CABINETS.

Look at that size. Cost Y 6880000 ₹ 7 crorer.(to be excat 70421622)
Title of this work : Aquarium of Five Dragons playing with a ball.
It took three three Masters 15 months to sculpture.

BELOW : THE AQUARIUM BY ITSELF 

Another BIG Fellow. ALSO AN AQUARIUM

Huge engraved wall mounting panel.

Some sculptures were in fact so huge that they must have weighed more than couple of tons and were displayed out side the main shop in a shade. Have a look :

The Horses .

Pride Of Lion.They look three seperate Statues,but are made from a single Jade rock .

Still bigger Aquarium !!!!

As we are not interested in shopping , normally we do not like to visit shopping malls . Though lot of people from the group bought jewllery items , small decorative items etc . For a moment we were also tempted.However what jewellery or statuettes we could afford we did not like . What we liked was so , so costly that they were just beyound our purchasing power.

So even though it was a shopping center, Here it was a different story.The quality and colours of Jade were facinating and an eye opener.The variety,the types,the sizes,numbers,of the Jade goods on display and sale were simply mind boggling .We could have easily spent more than half a day looking around and admiring the displays . I therefore decidec to call this as a visit
to a "place of attraction" rather than to a "shopping center". As we had a full days programme still to go through,we left the place to go to The Great Wall of China after about an hour or so .    

DAY EIGHT TO BE CONTINUED WITH : part ii 

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.