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Tiananmen and Beijing
Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

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Forbidden01 Hand-held panorama of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City entrance. Forbidden01
Forbidden02 Everywhere in Beijing you see signs of the coming 2008 Olympics. This municipal building just off the Square has the countdown clock to the Opening of the Games. Forbidden02
Forbidden03 Monument to the Heros in Tiananmen. Not too crowded today. Forbidden03
Forbidden04 But amazingly I got this almost deserted picture the next day as well. Forbidden04
Forbidden05 There are two of these statues to the Heros of the State. They flank the entrance to Mao's Tomb. Forbidden05
Forbidden06 On the far end of the Square is this Pagoda. Forbidden06
Forbidden07 Yes, they really do fly kites in the Square. Looking toward the Tiananmen Gate to the Forbidden City. Forbidden07
Forbidden08 Everywhere in the City are these cauldrons. They were filled with water and used for firefighting, a frequent activity in this City of wood. Forbidden08
Forbidden09 Even before the immensity of the City hits you, if you're paying attention, you see the details, in wood, in concrete, everywhere you look. These were crocodile guardians. Forbidden09
Forbidden10 The lions are everywhere. They are the traditional guardian symbols. I was enamored with them and the variety as you'll see later. Forbidden10
Forbidden11 Entering into the City, you see the vast spaces. My mind immediately went to the scenes in Forbidden11
Forbidden12 Unfortunately, much of the City is undergoing renovation right now in anticipation of the 2008 Olympics, so the view was impaired a bit as you see in this panorama shot. The scent of laquer from the roofs was everywhere. However, the renovations were long overdue. If you go to the Olympics, you'll have access to far more of the City than has been open since the Revolution. Forbidden12
Forbidden12m Here again the traditional manpower is used rather than mechanized means. See the paving stones? Those are textured by hand as I saw later in the day. Forbidden12m
Forbidden13 After you get over the enormity of the City when you enter, the next continuing theme is the roofs and roof lines. They go on and on and on, and they are SO elaborate! These are guardians to keep out evil energies. Forbidden13
Forbidden14 Another corner detail. Forbidden14
Forbidden14m Every roof line is adorned. Mom was even more taken with the architecutre than I was. Forbidden14m
Forbidden14m1 Even with the large number of buildings, the lines were harmonious as this shot taken by Mom illustrates. Forbidden14m1
Forbidden14m2 In many ways, it is the roof lines which illustrate the size and scope of the City far more than the open squares. Each building had a separate use and function. Even the storehouses were thus adorned. Mom snapped this perspective. Forbidden14m2
Forbidden14m3 Not only were the roof lines adonred, but the eaves were elaborately guilded and painted as well. This is another of Mom's pictures. Forbidden14m3
Forbidden15 Looking into the main inside gateway, you see the immediate City rooves, but in the background is an artificial Forbidden15
Forbidden15m Just inside the main entrance. The marble and granite carvings are extremely intricate. Again, notice the roof lines extending seemingly forever. Mom's design background is apparent in this shot. Forbidden15m
Forbidden15m1 More of the stone carvings along the stairways. Mom caught this interesting view. Forbidden15m1
Forbidden16 This carved stairway is the longest single stone carving in the world. It was so large the logistics of getting it to the City and installed is a story unto itself. Forbidden16
Forbidden16m Many places you will see intricately carved stairways. A lot of damage has been done over the years, but fortunately they are now being preserved and no longer used as stairs. Mom caught this shot as well. Forbidden16m
Forbidden17 However, even in the Forbidden City, you cannot escape the Western World these days... eeek! Yes, that's exactly what you think it is. Forbidden17
Forbidden18 Because I stayed over in Beijing to recover from bronchitis, I went to the Forbidden City on my own. Consequently, I wandered around and poked into areas very few other tourists entered. Lots of places far off the normal tour routings. It was in these deserted courtyards where I heard the echos of history. It was if the City was awaiting people once agian living there, not just visiting. Forbidden18
Forbidden19 Can't you just see eunochs rushing along here to serve the Emperor? The sense of awe in these empty places affected me more than the ceremonial rooms. Forbidden19
Forbidden20 Another deserted courtyard. It was so peacefully quiet here. Forbidden20
Forbidden21 This was an area which was preserved behind glass. Because it is off the normal tour routes, unfortunately I couldn't find any English explanations of what I was seeing. Forbidden21
Forbidden22 Hidden garden. Forbidden22
Forbidden23 Man made rocks in the garden area with structure on top. I suspect more feng shui principles at work in this creation. Forbidden23
Forbidden24 The scale in the outside sections of the City is much smaller. Obviously more personal space. Forbidden24
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