The Tour Officially Begins…
The Forbidden City – Beijing, China
Local Time: December 24, 2008 – 9:30AM
The official kick off to the China Tour began with a visit to the infamous Forbidden City located in the heart of Beijing. The Forbidden City is best known as the home of the emperors through various dynasties in China’s history. It was erected during the first dynasty and served as the primary home of the emperor.
A feeling of amazement washed over me as I walked through the property and slowly took everything in. This place has existed for over two centuries and it still looks extremely grand. This place was definitely built and fit for a king. The single-most impressive thing about the Chinese is their careful attention to detail and that talent was definitely reflected in the building. Every last piece of material has meaning, right down to the trim. Even if much of the property has been restored for tourism, a good portion of the property has also remained intact due to the diligence of the local volunteers who help to maintain the property and it’s cultural relics. Although the whole site may seem extremely lavish – even for the greatest of the emperors – much of the intent in building the site was also practical. The design and layout of the Forbidden City was also meant to keep the emperor and his kin safe from invaders.
The opportunity to walk through this historical site may have been short, but it is definitely unforgettable. Pictures from the visit are now uploaded into my photo album for those who care to take a look.
