White stone columns called hua biao flank many of the imperial buildings in and around Beijing. Carved in the form of a writhing dragon, the columns are topped with mythical beasts called hou, which were thought to report to the emperor.

| The Forbidden City | The Summer Palace | The Ming Tombs |

Copyright 2002 Alison Stuebe

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Alison's Wonderland / http://www.stuebegreen.com/wonderland/ wonder2@stuebegreen.com