Day 2: Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City

It would be the unusual person who would visit Beijing and yet not visit Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City.  We expected a gigantic Square jammed with throngs of people.  Yes, there were people walking about but the crowds were very manageable.  The Square is the largest one in the world, being 500 metres wide and 880 metres long. The flag raising ceremony is held every morning between 5 and 6 AM.  In our hotel room there was a card with the next day's flag raising time.

Monument to the People's Heroes

 

 

Beautiful flowers at the Square

 

After walking through the Square, we walked to the Forbidden City.  Everyone has read or heard about the Palace that had been home to 24 emperors since its completion in 1420 (14 years to construct).  There are approximately 800 buildings and more than 8700 rooms.  It would take several days if not weeks to see all the rooms and buildings in this example of Imperial architecture.

 

As we approached the Forbidden City walls:

 

 

 

 

 



 

Some of the buildings within the complex

 

In the photo below, one of the many pots used to gather rainwater.  Note the scratches made by foreign soldiers.  The rainwater was used to put out potential fires.



 

 

Not many buildings were open to the public but here is one photo that showed a building's interior:

 

 

 

 

More buildings with their beautiful colourful roofs

 

 

A protective lion 

 

After two hours, we had walked from the south end to the north end of the Forbidden City.  We did not visit any of the buildings that were to the east or west of the main pathway.  We hope to return and explore these other areas on another visit.  It was definitely worth having a guide to explain all the many interesting details about the buildings.