Temple Dogs and Lions

IMG_3453, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

These statues are technically lions, but are often called temple dogs because of their canine features. They usually come in pairs with one on each side of the steps or gate. This one is male because he has a ball under his paw.

Lady Temple Dog

IMG_3458, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

Temple Dogs or temple lions come in male and female varieties. The best way to tell them apart is to look at what they have under their...paw. Female temple dogs have small cub on his back.

Golden Roof

IMG_3460, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

All the roofs have the same style ornamentation which is these figurine people and temple dogs standing in a row.

Brass Elephant

IMG_3408, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

This brass elephant is also in the private area of the Forbidden City. If you look at the wall in the background, you can see that the paint has not been restored like it has in the larger parts of the area.

Emperor's Garden

IMG_3411, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

At the northwest corner of the Forbidden City is the personal garden of the emperor. Here the buildings are smaller and the grounds are more decoratively landscaped. This building is a small private temple for the emperor.

City In Haze

IMG_3947, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

Here is another view from the hill on top of Jingshen Park in Beijing looking towards the Forbidden City. If the haze were not so thick, you could see the government center in the distance.

Forbidden City Aerial View

IMG_4003, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

This faded aerial photograph shoes the relationship and size of the Forbidden City and Jingshen Park. Jingshen Park is the green circle at the top of the photo and everything inside the blue moat is the Forbidden City.

Looking South

IMG_3939, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

This is the view of the Forbidden City from the hill in Jingshan Park. The green covered entrance gate is being restored. All the orange colored roofs are part of the Forbidden City.

As you can see, I was not kidding about the smog and haze limiting visibility.

Go North

IMG_3404, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

Most of the major tourist attractions in Beijing stretch along a north-south axis. South of the Forbidden City is Tienanmen Square and north of it is Jingshan Park. It has a pagoda at the top of it. The hill is very popular with exerciser as it has a lot of rugged steep steps and paths to the top. From the top the views of the Forbidden City would be excellent if it weren't for the ubiquitous smog.

Welcome

IMG_3405, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

I assume the words in Chinese mean something because they went to a lot of trouble to work the scaffolding around them. The North Gate to the Forbidden City has a full ticket booth and the temporary parking is easier for groups to load and unload.

North Gate

IMG_3403, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

The traditional method of touring the Forbidden City is to enter at the South Gate, but using the North Gate is much more practical if you intend to continue on to Tienanmen Square afterwards. Like several portions of the Forbidden City, the North Gate spent much of 2007 in scaffolding undergoing refurbishment for all the Olympic tourists.

Forbidden Moat

IMG_3915, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

The entire Forbidden City complex is surrounded by a wide moat with entrances at the north and south end. The south end faces Tienanmen Square is the more famous side. The north side tends to be quieter. This picture was taken on the northeast corner of the complex and looks on the emperor's private garden area.

Group Photo at Forbidden City

IMG_3500, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

This picture is of the group of American and Chinese students at the inner front gate to the Forbidden City.

Forbidden City Front Gate

IMG_3502, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

The Forbidden City in Beijing is simply enormous. This entrance is actually the inner entrance which is on a courtyard open to the public. It takes a ticket to get further inside.