The Forbidden City, known as Gugong, is the largest and best-preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China. Completed in 1420, it was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and the Qing dynasties, and was the seat of supreme power for over 500 years. The Forbidden City...
People and Places
Famous Australian people and landmarks on Burke’s Backyard
Cloud 9 Bar in China
Cloud 9 Bar Don headed to the top of the highest hotel in the world for a night-time view of Shanghai. The Grand Hyatt Hotel is located on 53rd to 87th floors of the Jin Mao Tower, in the heart of Pudong, Shanghai’s financial and business district. With a...
Yellow Mountain
This famous landscape attraction is located in the southern part of Anhui Province, 280 kms west of the coastal city of Hangzhou. Yellow Mountain is so breathtakingly beautiful, it was declared a World Natural and Cultural Heritage area by UNESCO’s Heritage...
Humble Administrator’s Garden, China
Suzhou is renowned for having the most beautiful examples of classic Chinese gardens. Don looked at one of the largest, called Zhuo Zheng Yuan or Humble Administrator’s Garden. Designed in the 16th century, it makes great use of water with a maze of connected...
The Great Wall, China
The Great Wall Don visited the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, 90 kilometres north of Beijing. World Heritage listed by UNESCO in 1987, the Great Wall is probably the most widely recognised and enduring symbol of China. In fact, it is said, “The man who...
Old Shanghai Teahouse, China
Don and the Burke’s Backyard team visited the Yu Gardens Bazaar in Shanghai. This is a ‘Disneyland version’ of historical China. Here the Huxin Ting Teahouse seems to float over a lake filled with countless thousands of goldfish. Built in 1784 by...
Backyard Trains
Don visited railway enthusiast, David Fletcher and his wife Alison, who is a keen gardener. David has had a life-long interest in railways of the world and railway history. Alison had never heard of model railroading until she met David. In 1998, after many years of...
Silver Bullet Cafe
On Burke’s Backyard for the last 17 years we’ve had one mantra only, ‘Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without’. We’re opposed to trendy, modern recycling, but we think genuine reusing of things is fabulous for the environment and...
Alice Springs
This week, Don and the Burke’s Backyard team visited Alice Springs. Don met some of the locals and had a good look around the area. He loved seeing all the subtle colours: the silvery blue-green of the spinifex and the lovely colours of the gum trees, with their...
Camels
Breed: Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Temperament: Headstrong but amenable with training Cost: $700-$1000 broken in Lifespan: Up to 40 years in captivity Maintenance: medium Recommended for: Outback safaris History Camels are not native to Australia. They were...
