Nine Dragon Wall, Chicago

Inspired by the renowned wall within Beijing's Beihai Park, this impressive structure, erected in 2004, features a magnificent display of nine prominent dragons alongside an additional 500 smaller ones, all adorned in vibrant shades of red, gold, and blue, symbolizing the auspicious concept of good fortune. It's noteworthy that in ancient Chinese belief, the number "9" held the highest esteem, and the dragon was considered the essence of all creative forces. The reverence for the number "9" extends to most Chinese art and literature, where it was frequently used to convey profound or auspicious meanings. In mathematics, "9" is unique because any multiple of 9 will always reduce to 9 when its digits are added together. This mathematical property may have contributed to the number's significance.

As a prominent emblem of Chicago's Chinatown, this wall ranks among the four global replicas of the original in Beijing and was actually crafted from imported glazed tiles from China. Such walls are typically found gracing the precincts of imperial Chinese palaces and gardens, as emperors were believed to be the earthly representative of the heavens, and their throne was often referred to as the "Dragon Throne."; however, you'll discover this replica conveniently located near the entrance to Chinatown, adjacent to the "L" stop. If you have an appreciation for Asian architectural aesthetics (and beyond), you'll find this wall to be a truly captivating sight. Although partially enclosed by a gate, you can easily peer over it to capture some great photographs.