Beijing's Tiananmen Square is an extremely large square in the center of Beijing, where the gate to the Forbidden City is located, formerly the head of the government during imperial times. The national museum (certainly worth a visit) is also located on the square, as well as the current Chinese parliament, in the Great Hall of the People.
You can access Tiananmen Square by taking the subway to the Tiananmen stop, and walking a short distance (you will easily see the square, which is massive). Along the way there will be tons of the prerequisite vendors selling water, silly hats, and souvenirs.
In the square, you can see the entrance to the forbidden city:
A monument to the phallus of the Chinese fallen:
It's hot there during the summer, so be sure to hydrate or you may fall over:
And never forget. The iron fist of state is always present.
A side entrance to the Forbidden City.
But since we're not party members, we have to wait in line...It's not forbidden anymore...
Inside is like a Russian doll... more and more forbidden gates!
Oh no! A Manchu restorationist attempting to reinstate emperor Wu Ti and ruin the last century of Chinese hair fashion progress!
The crowds can get a bit rough...
But the sights are impressive.
The Forbidden City is a series of more and more restricted access zones.
Each zone will have a large gate.
Only certain servants and politicians could enter beyond the certain areas.
The ranking of the buildings was specified by "monsters" on the roof corners. The more monsters, the higher the ranking.
These mythical beasts are said to ensure the imperial workers would follow their duties inside, or they would leap and devour the worker.
The forbidden city also uses Feng Shui statues, like this turtle, to ward off fire (since turtles like water, of course).You can make out a swastika on this totem. Likely it's due to Buddhist influence (the Ming dynasty was big on Buddhism, seeing as the founder worked in a Buddhist monastery as a janitor). Or could it be evidence of NAZIS FROM SPACE AND ANCIENT ALIENS???? No, it's not.
Quite beautiful.
Each gate lead to another courtyard...
And more intricate sculptures.
It's huge maze of buildings that you can spend all day in.
With beautiful gates masking the secrets you will discover beyond...
Sometimes there's construction... Sometimes you can see evidence of the Chinese Economic Miracle!
Some really beautiful stone carvings are between stairs.
Here's a closeup
As you get closer you can see some of the Royal lodgings...
If you can squeeze your ass through the crowds and press your face up to the glass that is.
And you can't see much since it's blocked off.
Ahh that's a good one:
Here's the bed where the last emperor Wu Ti had his first nocturnal emission.
This is what these chambers normally look like...
You can often look into the ipad of the gentleman kind enough to open it for you and get a peak of what's inside.
Or if you're a white face demon like me, you push with all your might and get a photo of some chair.
Fuck, let's take a break.
Ahh more plexiglass!
There are various gardens inside the palace.
Another old stone carving.
And some moats with flowers.
Here is some of the old imperial residences.
A courtyard where the concubines lived.
A famous quail statue.
The small hallways are quite beautiful.
There's more throne rooms beyond more throne rooms...
Ah, it's getting late!
Ooooh, Jade!
OK this has to lead us out..
Hmmm... I can't read Chinese.
Let's walk a bit more...
Ah, another beautiful garden!
Every year the emperor would climb this waterfall to his concubine above, and make love in the moonlight.
And we found the rear exit!
If it's your first time in Beijing, you have to see the Forbidden City. Any other plans are completely Verboten.
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