The Forbidden City

Despite the multitudes this place is incredible, and you are still able to gain a feeling of space in the forbidden city. I loved it!

I was a bit disappointed by the experience i must say... yes, it is fantastically impressive and the buildings are exquisite... but the electronic guide is from the 60's and kept on cutting out when i moved about too quickly... i found myself in and out in about 45 minutes which is a shame!



Nonetheless, a tick in the box that everyone needs

The Forbidden City is a vast compound full of various palaces and buildings. Unfortunately a lot of the original buildings were destroyed numerous times over by fire (they're all made of wood) and their interiors looted during the cultural revolution in the 1960s. This should not deter the visitor however. The Forbidden City is a special place that was impenetrable for over a thousand years by the ordinary person. Just being able to stand where so many people wanted to tread and so much history has transpired is liberating.


The palaces to be seen are some of the few examples of their type anywhere in China again due to the revolution. There is also the Wall of Echoes which lets two people stand at either end and chat to each other over a large distance.


You also get to experience the modern China within the city as well; military exercises, souvenir shops and thousands of people milling about.


On arrival there is also the option of getting an audio tour, the guide on the English version being Roger Moore. You can't help raising an eyebrow as you enter this truly wondrous and individual site.