forbidden city

We have some time off this morning, it takes me awhile to get out of bed. I've been sick for most of the past week and I had a late night of drinking in the hotel lobby with Fabrizio Cassol, the great Belgian saxophonist and an artistic adviser on the trip. By the time I finally do stumble out of bed and go next door to have breakfast at McDonalds (I can't stand the thought of Asian food anymore), I have less than two hours to see the forbidden city. At over 1,000,000 square meters, the buildings alone account for an area of 170,000 square meters, two hours is not nearly enough time. I jump into a taxi anyway.

Arriving at Tiananmen square in the morning sunshine the place is crowded, mostly Asian tourists scatter over the square, lining up to see the Mao Mausoleum, or simply taking photos of themselves with his portrait in the background. I enter the gates to the city and buy myself a ticket. If you've seen the Last Emperor of Bertolocci you know a bit what to expect. Most will tell you that in real life it's a bit disappointing but I personally found it fascinating, especially the entrance procedure, you pass though one gate after another after another. In fact the whole palace is like a Chinese box , once past the gates, one throne room follows after the next, each one announcing itself as the center only to give way to another more important chamber.


I think the room below was the throne room of Emperor Puyi - at least it seems to be the room that was used in the last scene of Bertolucci's film . . .