On Thanksgiving We Explored the Forbidden City

Mimi in the Forbidden City

While Lulu was doing school work and preparing our Thanksgiving meal - Mimi and I went to tour The Forbidden City. It is called The Forbidden City because it was the emperor's home and you could not leave or enter without his permission. Some men were even required to be castrated before they could enter. I wonder what they did when it was time to leave? 

We took a taxi for the 4 mile trip from home. The ride was uneventful until the last few moments. When the driver was pulling over to let us out - the police commanded him to move. He made the mistake of saying he had to let us out. He got into an argument with the cop - and we scurried out while he was arrested. Mimi and I did not look back as we fled down the middle of the street because all the sidewalks were cordoned off. 

It was 11:45 - and our tickets were free - but only good until noon. We hurried to the Meridian Gate - gate A on the map below. 

We enter in gate A and left at gate B

The Forbidden City or Royal Palace is the largest wooden structure in the world. It has 980 buildings and covers 180 acres. A football field is 1.3 acres. The palace was built by the Ming Dynasty in 1406 to 1420. It has been continuously occupied for over 600 years. It is surrounded by a giant wall which is surrounded by a wide moat. 

Many of the buildings are open museums - many more are private residents of government party people. They are presently restoring everything to its pre-1921 look. Just south of the Meridian Gate is Tiananmen Square - the largest city square in the world. 

We got the chance to climb the wall and encircle the palace on the north and east side. It was a pretty clear day - so we got some nice pictures. 

Afterward - we took the subway and bus home in time for our Thanksgiving meal. It featured chicken - mashed potatoes - gravy - corn - cucumbers - rolls - and Great Wall Wine. Not bad for a "no oven" apartment. 

Meridian Gate - Chairman Mao 

Gargoyles and lightning rods

You enter in the south Meridian Gate

All these buildings are 

600 year old wood structures

We live at the blue dot
Beijing Normal University is magenta
Forbidden City is red

Lots of wood - lots of marble - many tiles

Panorama

Perhaps the symbol of China
Gargoyles

Many roof peaks

Marble steps

they were maybe 2 feet tall

Looks of bronze castings

Lots of slanted roofs

Walking along the north wall

These were the quarters

Acres of tiled roofs

Life inside the wall

In the subway - check out the hat

Thanksgiving wine
What goes with cat - red or white?