• The dome of one of the buildings next to the exit gate
  • There is a small garden close to the north end of the Forbidden City
  • Dui Xiu Shan - Hill of Accumulated Elegance
  • This one must be special, I guess...
  • A good map will help you navigate your way through the Forbidden City
    ...audio guides are available too.
  • The dome again...
  • Chinese writing has beauty and elegance...
  • Defying the laws of good photography
  • Chinese dragon has snake's body, deer horns, bull's ears, hawk's claws and fish scale
  • This is the symbol of long life or happiness, I'm not sure...
  • This crystal stone symbolizes frankness, open-heartedness and purity
  • This is the Hall of Consolation
  • Learn more...
  • Hall of mental Cultivation - place where Henry Pu Yi, the last emperor, abdicated on February 12, 1912
  • Tourists are swarming this hall...
  • ...as you can see
  • ...learn more
  • Around the Hall of Mental Cultivation
  • Even better view of the Forbidden City roofs is from Jingshan Garden
  • Jade Museum within the Forbidden City - this is famous Bi (Pi) disc
  • Dragons (male) and phoenixes (female) are often used as a motif in Chinese art
  • what are these guys doing?
  • is jade art your cup of tea?
  • If you break it you own it... just kidding...
  • oracle bone script??
  • This is not Chinese writing, it's Mongolian (I guess)...
  • ...and back to the northern exit/entrance...
  • This is Jingshan Garden, climb it, the view is very beautiful from there...
  • It's also called "Prospect Hill Park", made from the earth excavated to create the palace moat.
  • View at the Forbiden City from the top of Jingshan Garden. Yes, that haze in the background is smog.
Panels:
Now Loading