After two days and hours of trying, I was finally able to download some of the Forbidden City photos. Here we are, with Mom and Nancy, in Tian'anmen Square, in front of the "Gate of Heavenly Peace", which is the main entrance into the Forbidden City. You can see the large portrait of Chairman Mao behind us. Tian'anmen Square is huge, containing Chairman Mao Memorial Hall where Mao's pickled corpse is in a crystal coffin where thousands traipse by every day to view him. The square also holds an oblelisk which is a Monument to the Heroes commemorating the victims of the revolutionary struggle. Everything in China has a double meaning - or more - we have found. There is always a purpose to how things are done. Surrounding Tian'anmen Square are great buildings: Museum of Chinese History & Museum of the Revolution on one side; Mao's Mausoleum on one side; Great Hall of the People (apartments & offices of the government); and Gate of Heavenly Peace. It is hard to see which is the highest. They are all very close in height. There are height restrictions in Beijing. Nothing around the Forbidden City is higher than the buildings here. The tallest building, by a small margin, is the Great Hall of the People, as that is who rules the country - the people.
A soldier guarding beautiful topiary in Tian'anmen Square - One World, One Dream. The Olympics are still very present. The paraolympics had just ended when we arrived in Beijing.
Grandma Lu entering the Forbidden City.
Storey and her grammy. Great pals.
Marble carved bridges after the entrance. There are a reputed 800 buildings and 9,000 chambers in the Forbidden City. Four pillars constituted a chamber, so many large rooms could contain several chambers, depending on the number of columns. Nine was the emperial number, and doors have 9 knobs on them, etc. No one else could have 9. It took 14 years to build the City: 10 years to gather all the materials, 4 years to actually build. We were told, it sounds a bit extravagant, that there were 100 million workers and 100 thousand craftsmen. It is overwhelming when looking at the work done and the beautiful craftsmanship of so many things.
Mom was stopped many times so people could take their picture with her. This one lasted about 15 minutes as a crowd gathered and once one group was done another stepped up. Her 15 minutes of fame! We could always find her in the crowds, which were massive. The tallest blond head!
Gate of Supreme Harmony which leads to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Middle Harmony, another throne room, and Preserving Harmony Hall. There are major courtyards inbetween each of these halls and gates leading to them, and different kinds of craftmanship and meaning behind each courtyard and its symbols. I could write a book on it! Each gate and hall is higher than the one before, leading closer and closer to heaven and where the Emperor's, Sons of Heaven, resided.
So many groups of tourists who find each other by their specially colored hats!
Another courtyard with annex buildings. The concubines housing is behind all of these. There are no trees in any of these courtyards because part of the Chinese belief in Feng Shui and the symbols of the earth: water, fire, gold, wood. Those 4 symbols surround earth, and wood could lead to fire which would destroy the buildings, so there were no trees and huge pots of water that were always filled, ready to douse any possibility of fire. These large pots had fires under them in winter to keep the water from freezing.
One of many incense burners - LARGE. The detail everywhere is stunning.
More to come when I can get the photos loaded! M
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