China blog 4: The Forbidden City

One of the most anticipated sights of my trip, it did not disappoint.  The enormity of the place, the marble, the tilework, the throne rooms, it all exceeded anything I could have imagined.
It is something that every visitor to China should try to see. I shot hundreds of photos, and it was extremely hard not to indulge myself and show them all, but I hope the small percentage I have included will give you some idea of the grandeur.
It was a dull and cloudy day, but there were thousands of people there to see it. I have tried to brighten up the images so you can appreciate the color.
BTW, there is supposedly 9,999 rooms in the complex.  (While only 9.999? Because heaven supposedly has 10,000, and it would not do to have outdo heaven.)  Also, the number 9 is especially lucky, so, 9,999.....

Waiting in line.  My first experience with the Chinese and their lack of belief in personal space trying to get in.

There was a young woman  who was pressed into my back, trying at every small movement to get

ahead of me.  Just had to grin, and hold my place in line. 

There is only one massive gate, and all traffic is one way.  You enter, walk through the enormous complex of

courtyards and buildings, and emerge, maybe 6 hours later, at the other end of the complex. 

The iconic image of Mao

Finally past security, waiting to go in.

At various place in Beijing, you see military personnel, always standing at attention. 

In through the first gate and into the parade ground.  Not even in the Forbidden City, yet. 

At both the Summer Palace, and here, Chinese citizens, many from far away provinces, would seek

to have their picture taken with me.  Sometimes they would sneak up and have someone take it,  other

more bold ones would sit down, and ask.  Cheney said that if they were from very far away, they might not

have seen a Caucasian human before. 

I didn't see a single Chinese man with a beard.  I found out early on, that many Chinese consider a beard

to be "dirty", and especially with their dinner customs. 

Ready to enter the actual complex.  The tall pavilion on the right was for the emperor to review military troops, 

visitors, etc. 

Into the first courtyard, and headed for the Gate of Supreme Harmony.  We are walking on the central axis for

the whole complex, a path which originally only the emperor could walk. 

Looking inside one of the throne rooms. 

Crossing one of the five marble bridges over the Golden Water, a river running through the first courtyard. 

One of three huge marble staircases leading up the Gate of Supreme Harmony

In front of many halls are a pair of lions.  One is male, holding an orb, and this one is the female, holding a lion club.

And the decorations are spectacular. 

There is not a nail in the complex.  It is all a series of supporting blocks.

We are through the gate and are looking towards the "Hall of Supreme Harmony" the largest hall in the complex,

and the most important.  Here emperors were enthroned.

You see the central axis again, which goes in a straight line from one end to the other of the complex. 

And there is marble everywhere, including all of the steps and tiers in the distance. 

Standing in front of the "Hall of Supreme Harmony", looking back at the gate. 

As I was waiting to go through the "Temple of Supreme Harmony"  This young lady was doing some publicity shots for

herself.  I asked if Cheney could take a picture of the two of us.  

On the corners of the up-turned eaves, there is, on all royal buildings, a series of ceramic figures. On the end is a man

riding a horse.  Behind him are mythical beasts that are there to keep him in line.  And behind them is the 

Imperial dragon, keeping the beasts in line.  The number of beasts determine the importance of the individual living in the

palace.  The most anyone can have is nine, and this is the one building in the country that has ten. 

Another throne room

The marble steps and tiers are stunning.

A set of back doors of the hall, the "least" important doors.

In the steps leading up to the halls, in the very middle of the axis, are magnificent marble carvings, 

which was the path the emperor would take.  Only he could walk on these carvings. 

The "Nine Dragon" wall, of which there are only two in the world.

One of the nine.

One of many, many side courtyards and gates.

The huge courtyard outside the "Hall of Preserving Harmony".  At this point Cheney and I took a little side tour

and saw the collection of Gold and Jade art objects in an exhibit, which I presented in my China 1 blog. 

Another part of the emperor's "path".

Another extravagant throne.

Throne room, Hall of Union

And the ceiling above. 

In the imperial gardens.  A completely delightful place, I could have stayed 

here for the rest of the day.  

This is the  Pavilion of a Thousand Autumns

and the dome

Cheney in front of a tree trunk that could have been carved from stone. 

And finally, outside the northern gate, on a hill looking down on the Forbidden City. 

What an incredible experience, and Thank you, Cheney, Heather, and Belle, for allowing me to

come to Beijing and experience it.