Tianamen (heavenly place) square (err....square) is BIG........
25 October
Sooo BIG a Million people could fit on it's paving (+ I reckon about half them are here right now!). A spot popular with paraders and occasionally the odd unarmed student waiting to be run over with a tank, it is a most impressive introduction to the centre of the BIG capital of China.
See the gazillions of local peeps and the odd tourist in a depressingly looong line for days to see some dead bloke in his burial chamber (Mao Zedong) despite his passing some 30 years hence (more on Mao - the Who; what & why later (I hope)).
The Square:
Tianmen Gate - North
BIG Museum + BIG Olympic countdown clock - East
Monument - Centre
Qianmen gate - South
Great (BIG?) Hall of the people - West
Onto the Forbidden City (It's not Forbidden......& It's not a city!) - It Is BIG. Lying behing Tianmen gate & once home to ancient Qing emperors & Emperor Ming (From Flash Gordon.......Probably). If I'd been listening to our guide I'm sure I could write pages but basically the *ahem* 'City' was out of bounds to most locals (forbidden) & calling it City:Forbidden sounded stupid. Boasting 9999 rooms the verile and extremely fortunate emperor filled 3000 of them with girls (concubines.....Lucky Bugger!) Some of these ladies also helped with the cleaning. The whole *ahem* 'City' is architectually astounding (and No the machine I am on doesn't have spell check!). Wonderful to walk around it kinda reminded me of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.....only BIGger......and with more Dragons....
B.T.W. - The term 'Minger' actually originates from the concubines that Emperor Ming (The Merciless) chose not to lay with as their looks were not pleasing to his eye......or something.
Sooo BIG a Million people could fit on it's paving (+ I reckon about half them are here right now!). A spot popular with paraders and occasionally the odd unarmed student waiting to be run over with a tank, it is a most impressive introduction to the centre of the BIG capital of China.
See the gazillions of local peeps and the odd tourist in a depressingly looong line for days to see some dead bloke in his burial chamber (Mao Zedong) despite his passing some 30 years hence (more on Mao - the Who; what & why later (I hope)).
The Square:
Tianmen Gate - North
BIG Museum + BIG Olympic countdown clock - East
Monument - Centre
Qianmen gate - South
Great (BIG?) Hall of the people - West
Onto the Forbidden City (It's not Forbidden......& It's not a city!) - It Is BIG. Lying behing Tianmen gate & once home to ancient Qing emperors & Emperor Ming (From Flash Gordon.......Probably). If I'd been listening to our guide I'm sure I could write pages but basically the *ahem* 'City' was out of bounds to most locals (forbidden) & calling it City:Forbidden sounded stupid. Boasting 9999 rooms the verile and extremely fortunate emperor filled 3000 of them with girls (concubines.....Lucky Bugger!) Some of these ladies also helped with the cleaning. The whole *ahem* 'City' is architectually astounding (and No the machine I am on doesn't have spell check!). Wonderful to walk around it kinda reminded me of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.....only BIGger......and with more Dragons....
B.T.W. - The term 'Minger' actually originates from the concubines that Emperor Ming (The Merciless) chose not to lay with as their looks were not pleasing to his eye......or something.
posted by nidpor at 5:27 PM
2 Comments:
h'aight!
Forbidden City? Tried going to Focus the other day for some maroon paint. Looks like the Forbidden City got all the stock!
Brilliant place though. Especially all the tiny tiny dragons.
Enjoy.
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