The Forbidden City is the largest and the
best-preserved Palace complex in the world. It has 9,999 rooms with just a
single room short of the number that ancient Chinese belief represents
"Divine Perfection" and is surrounded by a moat six meters deep and
ten-meter high wall. For five centuries, this palace functioned as the
administrative center of the country as well as being the residence of emperors
and empresses of Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The old world of beautiful
concubines and emperors, ball-breaking (and broken) eunuchs and conspicuous
wealth still hovers around the lush gardens, courtyards, pavilions and great
halls of the palace. Most of the buildings are post-18th century. There have
been periodic losses due to an injudicious mix of lantern festivals and Gobi
winds, invading Manchus and, in this century, pillaging and looting by both the
Japanese forces and the Kuomintang.
Lama Temple
Beijing's largest temple, a Tibetan style place, is ornamented with
intriguing statuary, stunning frescoes, tapestries, incredible carpentry and a
formidable pair of Chinese lions. Perhaps most impressive of all is an 60ft
high sandalwood statue of the Maitreya or future Buddha in the Wanfu Pavilion,
carved from a single tree. The first thing one will encounter is the holy
shins, at eye level, and from there to the ceiling as the statue soars up and
over the galleries. Flitting around the Buddha's head are what appear to be
spinning prayer wheels, emitting a sweet, harmonious whine. Closer inspection
reveals them to be pigeons with whistles attached. The temple is a working
lamasery so it's closed early in the mornings for prayer.