It's all about The Forbidden City!

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Well it is our New Year’s day in China – so what else should you do but start the year doing something amazing with your family. And when you live only 30 minutes away from a place as amazing as the Forbidden City, I wondered why it had taken me 2 months to go.
It was another clear blue sky day (a balmy minus 12 degrees) in Beijing on the first day of 2011 when David (our driver) dropped us at the Forbidden City’s northern entrance – The Gate of Divine Prowess. This is on the opposite side to Tiananmen Square (and the main Meridian Gate Entrance). We were immediately struck by the lack of crowd and no wait to grab our tickets (40 RMB each). So within moments we were in and strolling around, immersed in centuries old architecture and gardens, with ancient trees which were hundreds of years older than the city itself.
The Forbidden City is the geographic centre of Beijing and was once the Imperial Palace during the Ming and later Qing Dynasties, dating back almost 500 years. The city was built on the north-south meridian, aligned to the Pole Star (Polaris) which is aligned to the Earth’s Axis of rotation, and was once surrounded by a moat, and protected by Watchtowers and archers along the walls. But on this day when we visited there was no moat, and not an archer in sight.
The atmosphere and history of the place grab hold of you the moment you step through the gate. It is such a contrast to the modern, almost futuristic, city that Beijing has grown into, and you literally feel yourself step back in time as you walk the cobbled pavements, and wander down narrow alley ways, and peer into bedrooms, studies, and chambers of all sizes and purpose. You have heard the saying ‘a place for everything, and everything in its place ‘ – well that describes the Forbidden City, for there is a separate room or hall for every possible human pursuit or past-time. We especially loved the names and signs for each of the places.. when you have indulged yourself long enough in the Hall of Medium Harmony it is then time to move on to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. I am not sure how the Palace of Heavenly Purity came by its name, for this was the Palace harem where the Emperor lived with his concubines!? Maybe it was wishful thinking?! I tried to get Michael to linger in the Hall of Moulding Temperament, but he couldn’t wait to visit the Nine Dragon Wall to see which of his favourite players were there, and whether Wayne Bennett was carved there too.
However, my personal favourite, perhaps because it struck a chord and made me a little homesick for my work friends, was the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As you can see the Chinese people have a disarming way with words, things do not really get lost in translation, rather, they are often wonderfully transformed into something endearing. The girls and I have started collecting photos of some of the charming or funny English translations we have found on the various signs we come across, and the Forbidden City was a treasure trove. For example, at a narrow stone stairway leading up and around boulders to a seat under trees in a high garden retreat, obviously meaning to deter the less disciplined, ‘A Single Act of Carelessness Leads to The Eternal Loss of Beauty’, whereas, in other parts of the world you would get, ‘No running on stairs’, or ‘mind your step’. I should point out that there was sign of some ‘western influence’ creeping in to their sign translations though, as another sign in the Garden read - ‘Perilous Hills, No Climbing Please’. I rest my case.
So have a look through the photos, there are two pages of them, and hopefully you will get a sense of what an amazing place it is to visit. Until next time we meet, enjoy the warm weather, stay well and keep the light on your path.
Nat

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Photos

Nine dragons
No Wayne Bennett - Cheer up Michael.

Comments

[Em]

Wow - what an amazing place! Great photos. Miss you guys. Can't wait to hear what your next adventure is!