Tang dynasty pottery at the Mumingtang Porcelain Museum.

Astronomical instruments built in the time of Qianlong were adorned with dragons, as none but the emperor was allowed to conduct research into the heavens.

The lions supporting the New Armillary Sphere, made under the xenophobic reign of Qianlong, eschew all western features.

The lions supporting the earliest armillary sphere, built under the relatively open Kangxi emperor, are rendered in a western style.

The gnomon was used to measure the length of the days, and pinpoint the solstices.

Detail of the astronomical devices.

Donghuashi Jie (东花市街) is nothing but apartment complexes now, but they remember their splendid past with this enormous list of 老字号 (lǎozìhào, historical merchants) once located here.

One of the Hui Elementary School's two iron lions, dating from 1689.

All that's left of the 蟠桃宫.

This may not look like much, but some lady took me on a quick tour and, if she's to be believed, this is where Mao's personal driver once lived.

This is 居易里. Nothing in there but one very surprised looking girl on her way to lunch, but looks like it was once something.

One of the things this neighborhood is really good for is that twisted sense of scale Beijing can sometimes provide. Some things that once seemed big are big no longer.

Trains coming in past the Dongbianmen Watchtower.