Trip to the Forbidden City

Did you happen to see the May 2008 issue of National Geographic that was all about China? I was so excited to come across it before we took off on our trip. I especially liked the supplemental map that was included one whole side describing and explaining lots of facts and information about the Forbidden City. I honestly didn't know anything about this place except that it was featured in the Disney movie "Mulan". I know, I'm not very intellectual. so here are some of the fascinating things I learned from the National Geographic:

The construction began in 1406 and finished in 1420! (now that is history!) "For nearly 500 years, from the early 15th century to the early 20th, 24 emperors ruled China from a sweeping palace complex at the heart of Beijing. Built like a treasure box of walls within walls, The Forbidden City was a cloistered imperial residence, a scene of ceremonial grandeur and also the bustling apex of China's vast and intricate bureucracy. "

All the buildings in this complex were tiled in gold which was symbolic of the Emperor. All the eves on every roof were very intricately painted -- stunningly beautiful... so hard to imagine how much time and effort gets put into keeping them this bright and colorful. They actually fade and have to be repainted regularly. I think with the upcoming Olympics that things especially in Beijing are being spruced up. Still, very impressive! There is a 16-year restoration project underway here that began in 2005 and so some of the buildings are encircled in scaffolding and not accessible for visiting.

Also on the corners of LOTS and LOTS of buildings every where (not just in the Forbidden City and not just in Beijing) there are rows of these "mystical creatures" whose main purpose is to be roof guardians. There are various numbers of these creatures depending on how important the building is. "Only the Hall of Supreme Harmony has ten creatures, bracketed by a dragon and an immortal riding a hen."
The Chinese are a very superstitous culture. Because they don't typically have any religion their beliefs are based on superstitutions and belief in "good luck". Red is a symbol of good luck and that is why you see red EVERYWHERE: lanterns, ribbons, clothing, National flag, banners outside their front doors on their homes, just to mention a few things.

The reason it is called the Forbidden City is because commoners were not allowed to enter until 1925 when it finally opened to the public as a Palace museum. During the Qing dynasty (1661-1796) it housed more than 10,000 people.

Of course, we had to get the "mandatory tourist photo" in front of the Tiananmen Gate where Mao's portrait still hangs today! I had the hardest time trying to figure out why the Chinese still revere Mao since he was so brutal to these people. His face is on every denomination of their currency also. I did read in the National Geographic magazine that in 1949 (the year I was born) he stood atop the Tiananmen Gate and proclaimed the People's Republic of China so the photo must be like "X marks the spot".

It was quite an impressive experience to set foot here where so much history has taken place.