Beijing, Part 2: Forbidden City, Jingshan Park

Beijing, Part 1: Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven

As we ventured into the Forbidden City (be sure to devote most of a day to its exploration), its sheer size and scope is the most surprising part.  The iconic image of the Forbidden City, one of its inner gates towards the Palace Museum, is a very, very small part of the entire complex.  The City is filled with dozens of nooks, crannies, parks, and mini-palaces designed to allow its royal inhabitants ever-greater peace and isolation from life on the outside.  

It's easy to get lost or never make your way to the main points, as Natan and I wandered through corridor after hall after walkway, leading to ever more numerous courtyards covered with intricate and beautiful ceramics and stone carvings.  Feeling a bit overwhelmed we finally exited through the rear of the palace only to see Jingshan Park towering above us.  Looking forward to a bit of open air with some actual vegetation in place of towering marble or exquisite ceramics, we leisurely made our way through the historic park to the hilltop pavilion.

After meandering through north-central Beijing (where we encountered the Most Idyllic Scene Ever), we called it a night before preparing for the Great Wall the next day. 

Below are images of me at the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park as one exits said City, as well as a brief video from inside one of the major pavilions.  The full Part 2 gallery can be found here.