with guide
The forbidden city build from 1406 – 1420.
After going through a lot of checkpoints we came to a massive queue. And our guide told us its like this every day. Of course everybody wants to go to the forbidden city.
The tour operator had booked the tickets, but since they are linked to our name – we have to show our passports to get them and pay. We got money from the guide – and me and Maren voulenteered to stand i Line to get tickets (the guide was not allowed, we where not on a tour.. if anyone asked) So – 1,5 hour in line, 13 passports. 🙂
From the outside it looks very splendid. And amazingly buildt in only 12 years, predomanatly in wood.
The moat that surronds the forbidden city is beautiful and about 50 meters vide.
Our guide getting our gear ready, we all had earpices, so we could hear her even if we were lagging or trailing behind in the group.
And lagging behind was not hard to do – she moved at great speed, walking speed only beaten by the talking speed. I think she drew her breath at 08:00, and just kept going on a single breath until 12:00. 😀
The forbidden city is huge, there is no way one can se it all in one day. It is mindblowing that this huge luxurious area in the middel of Bejing was forbidden for anyone but the emperors and their family for 600 years. Trespassing was punishable by death. And it takes a looong time to walk around.
It has been open for the public since 1924 and it is supercheap to get in. It has somewhere between 15 – 20 million visitors annually.
It got a bit crowded at times, but still well worth it. Its one of those places you just have to se.
