FORBIDDEN CITY (part one)

A definite highlight of any trip to Beijing is a visit to the Forbidden City. It is located in the center of Beijing and was built during a 14 year period from 1406 - 1420. It was the Imperial Palce of the Emperor of the beginning of the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.

For over 500 years, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the political and ceremonial center of Chinese government.

It now houses the official Palace Museum and consists of 980 buildings featuring 8,707 bays of rooms. In fact, since 1925, the Forbidden City - so named because all except the Emperors' families, concubines, eunuchs, armies and dignitaries were denied access - has been under the direction and charge of the Palace Museum. Forbidden also referred to the fact that absolutely no one could enter or leave the palace without the Emperor's decree or writ.

The Forbidden City is filled with breath-taking pieces of art, stonework and cultural treasures that typify and exemplify Chinese history. The ornate detail of the furniture, the buildings, the statues and even the painted ceilings bear testament to the high level of craftsmanship Chinese artisans embodied.
For Lynne, this was an especially wonderful tour. Her favorite part of the entire Forbidden City experience was the Imperial Garden and the beautifully manicured plants, gardens and fountains that are there.