The Forbidden City is a must-see for every visitor to Beijing. The magnitude and grandeur of the palaces and the grounds is a sight to behold. Entering the Forbidden City is strictly by the South Gate and one cannot possibly miss this entrance as it is where the famous Mao Zedong's portrait is displayed.
Winter is considered low season but there are still hoards of Chinese tourists over the weekend :(
Visiting the Forbidden City is no fun unless you have a guide well-versed in Chinese history and could debunk for you all myths and stories popularised in the palace-intrigue dramas that we may watch from time to time.
With their knowledge, every rock and every step symbolises something and becomes more meaningful. The marble that leads up to the main palace (picture below) is in fact one continuous block of marble. In the olden days when technology wasn't as advanced, transporting it means freezing the streets in the winter months and sliding the slab over to the Forbidden City.
The alluring colours of the Forbidden City.
One of the many throne rooms at the palace.
The many quiet alleys at the Inner Palaces that had seen many concubines plotting against one another in the past.
Every piece of furniture, word and plant is symbolic in the Forbidden City. The 2 characters in the picture below essential means "wise" in Mandarin. However, the character either has an additional stroke or is missing a stroke. This is to remind the Emperor and the concubines that the world is imperfect.
Although the rooms and the grounds were not as well maintained as the European palaces, the visit has been a very educational one for me. It has helped me gain a better understanding of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the way of life for the royals.
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