Got to the Forbidden City today – truly amazing to see, as amazing as Angkor in Cambodia; in the same vein, sumptuous design and colour and layout, so lovely to walk around and just be in such an ancient and highly refined cultural space. Lots of tourists but is so enormous you can find quiet spots quite easily – and would need several trips really. Huge grandiose spaces plus intimate/domestic small spots for wells and such like, all built with the same amazing attention to detail. The place is covered in glazed tiling.
Also Tian’anmen Square – which is really just an expanse of concrete pavement with Mao’s mausoleum planted slap bang in the alignment of the Forbidden City’s gates, a bad feng shui spot apparently. Didnt go in, it is shut till 20th Sept, so could go with Cameron and Jake if we want to see a waxy embalmed Mao! Apparently his request was cremation. The Vietnamese embalmers of Ho Chi Minh gave tips on Mao’s preservation apparently. No reference to the 1989 massacre of course, the 20 year anniversary of which will come hot on the heels of the Olympics.
