Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

Saturday we visited one of the most famous sites in Beijing and perhaps all of China. It's certainly one of the most important for the people of this country. While the Great Wall is a worldwide icon for China, it is the Forbidden City that the Chinese people associate with over 600 years of history and governance. Built between1402 and 1420 during Yuan and Ming Dynasties, it has been home to ruling emperors of China right up until the early 1900's at the end of the Qing Dynasty.

 

Spanning hundreds of acres and surrounded by a moat, the Palace consists of a series of walled off courtyards, residences, government buildings and temples. Interestingly, the Palace is under a major renovation by the Chinese historical society that is expected to last several more years and is even being sponsored by major corporations like American Express. In many places you can see the contrast between the effects of hundreds of years of deterioration and the restoration efforts. But even after hundreds of years, the Palace buildings are in amazingly good shape and walking through the expansive grounds definitely transports you back in time.

 

Afterwards, we visited an older hutong neighborhood and road along the narrow alleys and streets on bicycle rickshaws before visiting a 150 year-old family home to have tea with the owner.