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| Today's target is the Forbidden City. We had been told it was in walking distance. |
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| On our way is the Pudu temple. Forgotten by most tourists, it still has some charm. |
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| At its time, it was the most important Royal Tibetan Buddhist temple in the capital city. Under different names, it had been temple since the 13th century, and during the 17th century (under Prince Rui) the real centre of power in the whole Chinese Empire. |
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| 5 guardian statues, not bad for a building outside the Forbidden City. |
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| In this area, many houses try to keep a traditional style. But ... what is this guy doing ??? |
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| Nice private gates ... |
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| This is part of the Imperial Palace. Now we need to find the entrance. |
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| Grrrr, not this one it seems. |
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| Perhaps through this one ... |
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| ... Yes ! This is the Meridian Gate. |
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| And we're in. |
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| Here is the Gate of Supreme Harmony |
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| (View of the Meridian Gate from Gate of Supreme Harmony) |
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| Hall of Supreme Harmony |
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| The central lane is for the Emperor (note that he doesn't walk, he is of course carried). On one side are the military officers, on the other side the civil officers. |
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| This is the most important building: 10 guardian statues ! |
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| I believe this to be the Hall of Preserving Harmony |
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| These were filled with water to be used in case of fire. In winter, it was kept warm by lighting a small fire under. |
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| This is a huge one-stone carving, seen in the middle of stairs to one of the central halls. It weighs 200 tons, and had been brought here by sprinkling water on the way in winter to make an iced road, and pulled over this ice road. |
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| Hall of Heavenly Peace |
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| Hall of Terrestrial Peace |
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| More of the appartments (the Queen's I believe) |
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| We are now in the Imperial Gardens |
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| Some old and weird shaped trees are bigger than most of us ... |
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| Oh my God. This was supposed to be Gardens of Meditatiion and Tranquility ... it's crowded and people make so much noise ! |
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| Those Lover Trees are very popular :) |
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| Qin An Dian (Hall of Imperial Palace) |
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| Hill of Accumulated Elegance (Dui Xiu Shan) |
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| North Gate |
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| One of the watch tower |
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| Between the central and the Easter part of the Imperial Palace |
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| As time went quite fast, we are being slowly pushed towards the exit, at the South Gate. |
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| Since there are far less people now, we can take more pictures |
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| I like this one :) |
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| Out of the Forbidden City, the courtyard bears the marks of the passage of today's thousands and thousands of visitors ... |
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| We passed through Tienanmen Gate, and its famous portrait of Mao |
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| Tienanmen Square, with its flag, the monument to People's Heroes and Mao's mausoleum. |
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| The National Museum of China |
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| The Great Hall of the People (the Parliament) |
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| The square itself is huge. It's the largest open-urban square in the world with over 40 hectares |
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| Sunset |
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| Loads of people came to see the "lowering of the flag" ceremony. |
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