We had just arrived at the Peninsula Palace Hotel in Beijing and decided to go for a walk to check things out. Well, just around the corner and up a street was the Forbidden City. I don’t know about you but with a name like that I had to go for a look…
Located in the heart of Beijing the Forbidden City was where the Emperors of China ruled for 500 years. The complex contains 9,999 buildings so plan to stay a bit. The recommended time for a visit is three hours. This time will allow a quick overview.
Our visit to the city was during the National Holiday in October so let’s just say if you ever want to know what a crowd is, this is the place to be.
Most of the buildings in the city are closed to entry, you can only get a look through the open doorways, over a crowd ten deep. You will have to pay a small additional fee to see the buildings that do allow entry .
The city is divided into two main parts – the outer court where the emperor conducted the business of the country and the inner inner where the royal family lived.
There is so much to see that three hours hardly seems like enough. The detail and craftsmanship is incredible everywhere you look.
OK, This was the last place on earth I expected to see a Starbucks – but there it was, the Imperial Bucks.
For tickets to Beijing attractions Click Here
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