Beijing, China, November 16 - 30, 1999

The Forbidden City and Imperial Palace

On the coldest day of my trip, I ventured alone to city central for about a six hour's walking tour.   Not brisk, but wandering.  Tiananmen Square is the enormous entry courtyard for this Imperial City residence.  This architectural wonder covers 178 acres, 9,999 rooms, housed 8-10,000 servants, administrators, and royals.  It is said the city was designed to keep the Emperor in, and the people out.  After I got in, and past the crowds of mostly Chinese tourists, I pretty much got lost and wandered alone.  One highlight official exhibition was meeting a student artist from Xian who was selling art to go to Marseilles.  I bought. 

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