The Forbidden City
Few names of Chinese places evoke as much mystery as The Forbidden City does. To Chinese, it is the Palace Museum or the Imperial Palace. Whatever you call it, it is truly an awesome place to visit. Li Mei's sister Guoying took us there. The following collection of photos offers a sense of the views to be seen inside the walls. We recommend it highly!
To enter the Forbidden City, you walk through the Tian'anmen Gate into this large courtyard. Kelly and Guoying are in center foreground. At the right rear you can see a series of shops for needy travelers. On the far right, though...
...basketball! Yep, folks, the NBA has invaded the Imperial Palace, '90s style, sneakers and everything. I wonder what the emperors would think?
We returned on a different (hot) day for Kelly to photograph the Square from the Gate. Here she is, changing film and resting. The basketball players in the left background are taking a short break.
The Meridian Gate is entrance to the Forbidden City proper;. Here you buy your ticket and pass through the turnstile. Guoying and Kelly are in the left foreground. Note the backward look that Kelly is getting from the Chinese woman. Kelly was to see many more such looks during our five weeks in China. Even with China's new openness, it seems that young blondes with long hair, backpack, and camera still attract attention.
The Gate of Supreme Harmony. Note the male lion guarding it on the right.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony. Kelly is consulting her Lonely Planet guide to Beijing, which many a time proved indispensable.
Kelly in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Ken at the same place.
One of the smaller halls, also being refurbished for 1 October.
A view inside one of the halls.
Li Guoying in front of some of the smaller buildings.
The Hall of Preserving Harmony.
The closing series of photos comes from the Imperial Garden, near the north gate to the Forbidden City. To our eyes, it was one of the most pleasant parts of our walk. Kelly is standing at the base of the steps.
I hope this photo conveys a sense of how relaxing it was to step into this beautiful garden after walking through the entire Imperial Palace. I suppose the emperors didn't have to walk, but we did!
Isn't this a lovely picture of two happy women enjoying the Imperial Garden?
Shortly after the previous picture was taken, Kelly had me photograph her sitting on this little railing. As soon as I finished, a Chinese mother rushed her little girl over next to Kelly and indicated that she wanted to take a picture of the two of them. Kelly, who is not used to considering herself a model, was somewhat taken aback but obliged anyhow. I rushed this photo at the same time. The little girl is not sure she approves of the whole thing!
We end this quick tour of the Forbidden City with two especially nice views of Chinese people in the Imperial Garden enjoying a small fountain in front of a wall of rock. The first one shows the people milling around; the second one, a typical pose in front of the fountain.
