Forbidden

March 30, 2009

Today we went to the Forbidden City, where, just outside we saw a bunch of soldiers that were doing some morning training in the art of hand combat. The forbidden city itself is very impressive with a progression of courtyards as you walk north, and eventually a courtyard garden at the far north end, flanked by elephants statues who’s knees bend backwards and what looks like a temple build into a mountain of stones. To the sides of the main courtyards there are many other courtyards full of houses for the servants, concubines, and even the old telephone center. The courtyards to the side are also very lard and contain buildings such as the clock museum where one of the emperors elaborate clock collection is on show. One of the clocks even has stairs in the back that people could, at one point, climb on.

Amanda put it well when she said it was huge, but seemed small after seeing the summer palace. I agree, but it was still huge and enormously impressive. I would also like to point out that it was swarming with people. Tons and tons of tourist groups were going through the city, and I kept thinking – but it is Monday. Apparently that will not stop your Chinese tour groups. They did like to point out things like the fact I am tall, but then again, many of them didn’t even come up to my shoulder so I can’t blame them.

Being at the Forbidden City reminded me why all museums and temples have guard rails to keep you out/off of things. Even with the guard rails many people reach through or push their feet through so they can touch what is on display, very different from an American museum where you give an exhibit a foot or two of space and wouldn’t even dream of touching it, unless it was a Children’s Museum.

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