The Forbidden City and Imperial Palace
On the coldest day of my trip, I ventured
alone to city central for about a six hour's walking tour. Not
brisk, but wandering. Tiananmen Square is the enormous entry
courtyard for this Imperial City residence. This architectural
wonder covers 178 acres, 9,999 rooms, housed 8-10,000 servants,
administrators, and royals. It is said the city was designed to keep
the Emperor in, and the people out. After I got in, and past the
crowds of mostly Chinese tourists, I pretty much got lost and wandered
alone. One highlight official exhibition was meeting a student
artist from Xian who was selling art to go to Marseilles. I bought.
