I visited Beijing in April/May 1998, with a number of other westerners. To be blunt, if you've made it as far as Beijing, you should go see the Forbidden City. It would be kind of silly if you didn't.

Although it is undeniably touristy on the outside, the Forbidden City itself is surprisingly well-preserved and authentic on the interior. The exterior vicinity of the City tends to be swamped with assorted vendors, some of which can be quite interesting in their own right (for example, there were about a dozen freelance barbers, surrounded by drifts of human hair).

Due to the size of the Forbidden City, it's important to restrict the scope of your visit (and, due to ongoing repairs, your visit may be restricted for you). First, the most imposing elements of the complex are found on a straight line running away from the main entrance -- this is where you'll find the larger "throne rooms" and the like. In most cases you won't be allowed into the interior of these buildings, so you'll have to make do with a walk around the exterior, peering in. In fact, you'll probably spend most of your visit out-of-doors, so plan accordingly.

While you're walking, note the pavement itself; one of the emperors was obsessed with the idea that assassins might tunnel in from the outside, and consequently the pavement is composed of layers upon layers of bricks in an alternating pattern -- the idea being to make it impossible to tunnel in. That pretty much sums up what went wrong with the emperors, and thus the Forbidden City.

Away from the main axis of the complex are innumerable smaller rooms and courtyards. If you're travelling in a group, or with children, you should pay attention at all times, or you're liable to lose someone (for a while, not permanently).

You might want to consider hiring a guide or buying a special-purpose guidebook, as the history of the Forbidden City is half the attraction, and none of the usual travel books will cover the topic with enough depth.

There are innumerable "photo opportunities" within the Forbidden City, but be careful -- it's relatively easy to take a dozen shots that all look the same (same style architecture, same colors, same roof design, etc.). I recommend looking for smaller details on specific structures, rather than going for several sweeping panorama shots. Of course, you'll need to get one or two panoramas in the mix, but don't go overboard.

Some additional notes: there are relatively few facilities within the complex, although there are gift/refreshment shops in the garden area. Plan ahead, especially if you have children or older people. There isn't a great deal of shade available, and the pavement can get quite hot in the sun. There will also be a fair amount of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. If you're travelling in the summer, consider sunscreen -- there aren't many trees in the Forbidden City.





Recommended: Yes