| The Forbidden City - Beijing |
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| The Forbidden City was home to China's Emperors of the last several dynasties. Ordinary Chinese, especially men, were banned here, hence the name. The Chinese capital moved often during the centuries. The Forbidden City is a vast area that can intimidate tourists. A panoramic lens helps, and you can see that photo by clicking on my highlights page . |
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| I tried paying attention to small details, such as this intricate wood carving and painting on the ceiling of a royal pavillion. |
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| The giant tortoise symbolizes hope for the Emperor to have a long life, like a tortoise. After visiting the Forbidden City twice, it's still my favorite statue here. |
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| Each Forbidden City pavillion had a grandiose name and served a distinct function. Many held elaborate thrones for the Emperor, such as the one above. |
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| This closeup of golden artwork design on a pavillion corner might be intertwined dragon tails. There are a host of dragon images in the Forbidden City, since that beast was sacred to the Emperor. |
| If you have a high speed internet connection, watch the Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free film of this trip, "The Last Emperor's Home Video", by clicking on AdventurePics.com . |
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