The Land of the Forbidden

Listed as one of the world heritage sights, the Forbidden City became our first stop when jas was here for a week in beijing. What made the trip unforgettable was that i was there with such good company. I never thought i would be walking down the hallways of the palace with jas (sigh missing her already)! It was so much fun discovering the grounds together, walking down history lane with an audio guide in hand.

On a different note, a guide of some sort is absolutely necessary to fully comprehend a place of such magnitude with history that dates back hundreds of years ago. There was much to learn from the anonymous voice!

The palace is designed in a symmetrical pattern, such that it is hard to get lost inside. Moreover, a lot of the smaller halls at the side are cordoned off from the public eyes. What is left to explore can be easily accomplished in under 1.5 hours. That was how long we spent at the forbidden city (well partly because i was under-dressed for the weather, and my toes were about to drop off from the freezing cold).

Much of the halls (the bigger ones) underwent major restorations and what we saw was a representation of how they should look like at their peak. But somehow, i did not buy into the new look. I prefer constructions with an element of the old former charm.

The Meridian Bridge which the emperors of the past traveled on

I am doing a collection on these. Would reveal it when the time is right.
Into the heart of the city
The Courtyard

A peep into the past
Water Hole
The Throne
Made from a piece of marbleThe Imperial Garden