Impression of Ancient Capital

There are 365 days in a year, the Imperial Palace is always crowded all year around. The quiet Imperial Palace is hard to come by in the early morning. It is a kind of peculiar experience to drive at the foot of the Imperial Palace. It takes me only a few minutes’ drive to the Forbidden City in the sunny morning, and my taking a few pictures is satisfactory.

The sunshine sheds its sunlight in the moat in the early morning, and the north gate of the Imperial Palace reflects itself in the water. The Gate of Godly Prowess is dignified and charmful.

The turret is in northeast of the Imperial Palace, which is the most beautiful scenery.

The wide-angle lens is not enough for my camera, so I can only frame scenes separately. The moat at the back of the Imperial Palace is broad and quiet.

On the east of moat of the Forbidden City, there are a row of weeping willows opposite to a row of bungalow overlooking the river.

Each of the four corners of the Forbidden City has the exquisite turret, the turret is 27.5 meters high with cross ridge which is a magnificent building. Take a close look at the turret , it’s covered with gold leaf showing the royal style.

I park my car at East Flowery Gate and luckily it’s free.

I take a close look at the red walls of the imperial Palace on the bridge of East Flowery Gate.

A wild duck cruises in the moat.

The green trees and houses reflects civilian’s sentiment outside of the Imperial Palace

This is the riverside restaurant. Its window is a mirror, and the Imperial Palace walls are in the mirror. I used to come here in sunset, when I look through the big window and find out lovers, I decide to have a romantic dinner with my lover someday, which has not yet achieved.

It’s the turret on the southeast of the Forbidden City.

It’s illegal for civilians to come here in Qing Dnasty, but this morning I drive my legal car here.

I drive across the front door-the Meridian Gate. I take risks taking photo under watch of the guards, it’s empty despite of former hustle and bustle.

Early in the morning, I park in front of Zhongshan park, and I don’t have to afford a ticket to enter in.

The tulips are around the royal coniferyls.

I drive back to the Gate of Godly Prowess.

There are few old men who are taking exercises in the front of the Gate of Godly Prowess in early morning

The central TV tower is visible apparently.

There are kinds of exhibition in the Imperial Palace. The first time when I get into the Palace, the ticket is fifty cents, then two yuan and 10 yuan. I don’t go to the palace any more since the fare is up to 40 yuan. For many years, I’ve always planned to spend the whole day visiting the Imperial Palace, but unfortunately, it’s has not yet realized by far.

The Imperial Palace, known as the Forbidden City, was the imperial palaces of the Ming(1368-1644) and Qing(1644-1911) dynasties. Twenty four emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties ruled from the Forbidden City. The last dynasty fell in 1911, but Emperor Puyi still lived in the inner court. It was not until 1925 that the complex was converted into a museum. Since then the palace has been opened to the public.

The Forbidden City is the largest piece of ancient Chinese architecture still standing. Some of the building were damaged by lightning and rebuilt in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The palace had been expanded several times, but the original layout was preserved.

After 1949, some costly renovations were done and the Palace has been listed by the Chinese Government as one of the important historical monuments under special preservation.