These are the days of My Life - Beijing, China, Forbidden City #1

Tienanmen Square first glimpse.  Huge open space not much else.  Where are all the people??  Just wait.

Forbidden City first gate.  This is where Mao and all the other's sit in the grand stand to observe the marching of the troops on the street in front.  The street in front is 6 lanes going both ways.  There are iron railings all along the street preventing you from getting to the other side.  Tienanmen Square there arre underground tunnels connecting each corner to ease congestion of the throngs crossing the street. 

Yeah, Mao, Me and Gnome are at the Forbidden City.  That's Mao over my shoulder.  Quite a photo. Mao's masoleum is across the street in Tienanmen Square, it was closed the Monday i was in the ares so i missed passing by to give my respects.  I think ths sign said Closed for Cleaning....gross, hasn't he been dead for awhile now.  Not sure I am up for a body viewing..maybe next time.

Yeah, they were there too..cute.  Everybody stops for the prerequisite phot with Mao.  He was the leader of the People.

Thru the first gate of many.  Here are all the people.  I entered and veered to the right to begin to actaully view the exhibits.  The Forbidden City is an emmense open space (grounds).  There are many buildings on the perimeter that still contain alot of the original artifacts (pottery, furnishings, ar objects) which are displayed behind plexiglass/galss so the visions are scratched or have alot of finger/forehead/face prints as locals smash their faces against the glass for a better view.  To preserve the artifacts there is limited if any lighting inside.  Only the light from outside so getting agod look takes ingenuity 9face smashed agianst the glass with cupped hands to see.

Me, in the courtyard outside the second gate.  Everything here has recently been repainted and the red wall in places could use a fresh coat.

The moat around the Forbidden City.  No Koi in the pond.

Did I mention that the Forbidden City was emmense?  It stetches for about 10 football fields.  Needless to say most walk thru, few i found actually meandered thru the actual presentation rooms. Crowds were not aproblem on the day I was there if you visited the actual displays which were more in the building on the perimeter.  Fortunately the tours seemed to all run right through the middle.  No tour for me

A beautiful Day to explore the Forbidden City.

It was good to be Emporer!  Especially as noone was allowed entrance and the Emporer never left to mingle with the common folk.  You just have to imajine the wealth that it took to construct and maintain this collossus facility.  Fascinating.

One of the display rooms, taken by my I-phone pressed up aginst the glass.  Not a bad pic considering the cicumstances.

To Rule as far as the eye can see.

The brass door handles are rubbed by those entering and exiting for good luck and prosperity.

Another of the original displays from a ancient time.  It was amazing as the pictures taken are better than the actual ability to view the displays through the glass.

Furnishings, Vases, Antique clock from a time gone by.  The displays ranged from amny of the different Empoere times, Ming, Qing, Ching, and few others that I will have to study up on once I return to the land of normal and have more time to commit.

Gnome made a new friend at the souvenier shop.  Her name was Ming.  She spoke very good English and we chatted awhile about my travels. 

All the doorways had the brass knockers and the extended knobs that all that passed thru the doors rubbed for lucka nd propserity.  You better believe I didn't miss one.  ;-)

The tile work and decoration reminded e alot of some of the Buddhist Temples in Thailand.  Here in the Forbidded City it was all very new but there was a presentation of the restoration and how the detail is original, just everything looks rather...well new and freshly painted.  Kinda took alittle away from my impression of the The Great Wall which I'm sure also is regualrly maintained but I went where it wasn't which was the BEST!