Beijing is dominated by the huge Imperial Palace, completed in 1420. Since the palace was off limits to most people for over 500 years, it is also often called the Forbidden City, and is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. At one end of the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square. While the Forbidden City is linked to the ancient dynasties of China, Tiananmen Square is linked to Mao Zedong and the cultural revolution. In the late 1960's, hundreds of thousands of Chinese supporters crowded the square during Mao's reign, waving his little red book and chanting his name. Tiananmen Square was also the site of the June 1989 tragedy, when Chinese troops killed hundreds of protestors during a pro-democracy rally. That tragedy continues to haunt Sino-American relations today.
Tiananmen Square was expanded in the 1950s so that it would hold over a million people. Today it is full of all sorts of amazing sights such as people flying kites or practicing tai chi. Visitors also need to be prepared for the masses of street vendors trying to sell you a little of everything! We bought cute "Beijing 2008" hats for about $1, so the prices are right. Unfortunately, once you have purchased something, you become "fair game" for all other vendors. We just ignored them and marveled at the magnificent plaza, dominated at one end by the Mao Mausoleum and the other end by the gate to the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved example of ancient Chinese buildings and culture in China. It was the home to many royal dynasties of China such as the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. The Forbidden City was so massive and impressive that many emperors never even left the self-contained conclave! Most people enter the Forbidden City (called the Palace Museum by the Beijing authorities) through the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) next to Tiananmen Square. A huge portrait of Mao Zedong dominates this gate. To the left of the portrait is a slogan, "Long Live the People's Republic of China", and to the right is the slogan, "Long Live the Unity of the Peoples of the World."
The basic layout of the city is from the early 15th century, but many of the buildings seen today were constructed in the 19th century. The original Imperial Palace buildings were constructed by 200 thousand laborers in just 17 years. The complex has been decimated by fire, earthquakes, and war over the centuries. In the 20th century the Imperial Palace was looted first by the Japanese during World War II, and then in 1949 during the Communist takeover. Thousands of crates of relics were moved to Taiwan at that time.
The Forbidden City is a 200 acre massive complex of buildings and artifacts. It will take at least two hours just to walk from the Gate of Heavenly Peace through the main buildings of the Imperial Palace to the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) at the other end. Allow a couple of more hours to explore any of the outlying structures.
Page 1 > > Beijing Overview > >
Page 2 > > Summer Palace > >
Page 4 > > Great Wall of China and Ming Tombs > >
Page 5 > > Beijing Tour of the Hutong > >
Tiananmen Square and the Imperial Palace and Forbidden City Pictures
Beijing, China - Tiananmen Square
Museum of Chinese History - Beijing, China - Touring Beijing
Tiananmen Square and the Gate of Heavenly Peace to the Forbidden City - Beijing, China
Gate of Heavenly Peace to the Forbidden City in Beijing
Beijing, China - Entering the Forbidden City
Soldiers Inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, China
Inside the Imperial Palace or the Forbidden City in Beijing, China
Inside One of the Throne Rooms in the Forbidden City of Beijing, China
Imperial Palace Rooftop in the Forbidden City of Beijing, China
Imperial Palace Throne Room in the Forbidden City of Beijing, China
Starbucks Coffee Shop Inside the Forbidden City
Elaborate Staircase Inside the Forbidden City
Jing Shan Hill in Beijing - Site of Hanged Ming Emperor
Typical Chinese Pavilion in Beijing
Northern Gate to the Imperial Palace in Beijing
Pavilion and Gardens Near the Northern Gate of the Imperial Palace
Boats in Park in Downtown Beijing
Park Decorations in Beijing Park
Mao Zedong Mausoleum in Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Statue in Tiananment Square in Beijing
Page 4 > > Great Wall of China and Ming Tombs > >
More on China Cruise tour
More pictures of Beijing, China
Viking Century Star Yangtze River cruise
Preview of Viking Century Star cruise
