The Forbidden City – Beijing China

Located in the heart of Beijing China is the incredible Forbidden City. This ancient “city within a city” is an architectural gem and Lindsay and I spent an entire morning taking it all in. However, before actually going inside the city Lindsay and I walked around its beautiful exterior walls the day before during an evening stroll. The Forbidden City is of course one of most popular tourist destinations in China so we were expecting some serious crowds. There certainly were a lot of other people around but this did not detract from the overall experience. It was very easy to find your own little spot to enjoy the incredible surroundings. Most people know that the Forbidden City is the ancient home of the ruling dynasties of China. It got its name because for centuries it was only accessible by the emperor, his family and servants. It is a huge square complex surrounded on all sides by a wall and moat. The interior is a collection of courtyards, temples, gardens, etc each built in the distinctive Chinese architecture. For Lindsay and I the most impressive thing about the forbidden city is the fact that it is so well preserved. Despite the chaos outside its walls (communist revolution, etc) the interior has remained mostly untouched. There was an automated headphone tour guide which Lindsay and I took advantage of but the most enjoyable thing was simply wandering around. Each temple generally had a beautiful and ornate staircase that would lead up to it which would then open up to another courtyard. Towards the back of the complex was a beautiful garden that looked like something out of a Disney movie. The only thing that was even remotely un-enjoyable about the experience was the heat. It was a dry and hot day in Beijing and by the time Lindsay and I made it out of the Forbidden City we were dying. :) No trip to China is complete without a visit to the Forbidden City and for Lindsay and I it was an experience we will always remember.