If Tiananmen Square was a let down then hopefully, if the queues are anything to go by, the Forbidden City won't be. Actually the queuing is well organised here and it rather felt like being back in the playground at primary school lining up two-by-two, but woe betide you if you left so much as a metre's gap in front of you - an official would urge you forward.
The Forbidden City is an imperial palace complex built around 1420 and home to 24 Ming and Qing dynasties and the centre of political power in China for over 500 years (until 1924). Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site it is the largest preserved royal palace complex still standing in the world.
Entrance was through a relatively small doorway (hence the queue) and it was obviously the done thing to touch the brasses on the way through, so Ian did. The door has 81 brass studs and as 9 is considered a lucky number, I guess 9 x 9 is even more so.
Our guides are using the same "whisper" devices that we had in Turkey, which are brilliant - it means I don't have to stand around listening but can safely wander off as long as I make sure I'm still in earshot. Ian, bless him, is always keeping a watch out for me whenever the group disappears around a corner.
Of course I didn't listen to any of our guide's explanation so can't tell you much about the place, apart from what Ian remembers. Almost all the buildings in the Forbidden City were constructed so that the interlocking timbers didn't need any screws etc.
This is the Golden Water which flows from West to East in a course designed to resemble the jade belt worn by officials.
Ian standing on one of the 5 marble bridges which symbolise the five cardinal virtues of Confucianism; benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and fidelity.
One of a pair of lions guarding the hall's entrance. This is a lioness as she has a cub under her left paw whereas the male has a ball under his.
It certainly is a vast complex, we saw maybe 1/20th of it and were ushered along a great speed but those bits we did see were very impressive.
I think this is the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
We noticed quite a few young ladies dressed up as concubines, taking selfies.
So I persuaded these ladies to pose for me. Goodness knows how much the costumes cost to hire.
There are usually three terraces; one for the emperors, one for the nobles and the third for the masses.
This cistern stands in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and was another important piece that everyone touched the handles of as they passed by.
The use of the colour yellow was exclusive to emperors.
The little figurines are all associated with water and are supposed to protect the building from fire.
Emperor Yongle's grand staircase, a 16m long hand-carved marble masterpiece that symbolizes his power.
Some close ups of the buildings' detail.
I don't know why but this row of seating appealed to me, probably because it was so crooked.
This was the main gate leading out of the complex.
