Jostling for Harmony

Sunday we visited the Forbidden City located at the center of Beijing. The Forbidden City served as the home for 24 emporers of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Construction started in 1406 and it was occupied until the last emporer left in 1911. During this time, the average citizen would have been forbidden from entering.


There are almost 200 acres within the walls of the city. Inside you have your Palaces of Earthly Tranquility, Heavenly Purity, Middle Harmony, Preserving Harmony and Supreme Harmony (among others).

Reaching any of those states is unlikely today given the average crowd visiting.

It starts just outside of the city in Tiannamen Square...

By the time we got to the main gate we had been swept up into the pack. Forget pursuits of Harmony and Tranquility, here you need to focus on not having your eye poked out by an umbrella.

There is little shade throughtout most of the city and it was hot so we were glad to get to the Imperial Garden towards the end of the tour. Here you will find the great Hill of Accumulated Elegance:

It was an interesting tour and impressive place but we were glad to head back to the tranquility and harmony (and AC) of the hotel guest lounge!