China World Showcase

Epcot may not have lived up to Walt Disney's original vision but it's still my favorite park. This is the China World Showcase. If I have any complaint about Epcot it's that there's still room to grow and several countries conspicuously missing. Did you know there are up to ten spaces available for other countries today? You can read more about it here. 

Here's my top five wishlist:

• Australia

• Spain

• Russia

• Brasil

• Kenya or Tanzania

What are your top five?

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

Imperial Roar

Chinese guardian lions — also known as "Foo Dogs" — adorn entrances to many buildings in China. They are said to have mystic protective powers. Originally, they were installed to protect imperial palaces and memorials but today, they are used just about everywhere... in this case, it is protecting a karaoke bar on the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship.  

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

Chinese Lanterns

The world showcases at Epcot do a great job of transporting you to another world if you just squint a little and suspend your disbelief a tiny bit. These lanterns serve as a neighborhood lighting while you are in China. I was looking at one of my unpublished, long-range zoom photographs of one of the other world showcase countries the other day and realized there was an office at the top of the tallest building in that particular "country." It must have a tremendous view of the area. It has me wondering which other upper-floor world showcase rooms also serve as security or executive offices throughout the park. If the third floor of this red building is an office, I think it would make one of the coolest offices ever. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

Terracotta Army

These statues are replicas of several of the more than 6,000 life-sized terracotta statues guard the burial temple of Qin Shi Huang. Qin Shi Huang was the founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of Unified China (221-207 B.C.). Emperor Qin's most memorable project isn't the massive mausoleum in which he is buried, though. His largest — and most memorable — project was the earliest version of China's Great Wall. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

The Shop at the End of the Tunnel

The greatest thing about the Illuminations fireworks and laser light show at Epcot each night is that it gives you about 20 minutes of complete alone time wandering around the countries of Epcot when everybody else is looking the other way.

Solitude in the Disney Parks is a rarity... unless you know where to look for it. Once you start looking, you'll find it everywhere. The whole point to Disney is to relax and enjoy yourself. Most people lose sight of that on the drive down I-95. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

Temple of Heaven

This is a beautiful replica of the Temple of Heaven, which was constructed in the 15th century in Beijing, China. The main interior room is called the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and it is as brightly adorned as the exterior. 

I have not yet seen the original but it has now been added to my bucket list. I wish I had more time to photograph the temple but we were rushing to find a good spot for the Epcot fireworks show, along with everybody else... which is why this photograph is conspicuously lacking strollers and fanny-pack wearing families. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7 and edited in Adobe Lightroom.

Imperial Guard

This Imperial Guardian Lion protects the entrance to the China World Showcase at Epcot. These statues were popularized during the Han Dynasty (beginning in 206 BC). They are often stationed in front of Imperial palaces, temples and homes of government officials. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7 and edited in Adobe Lightroom.