The Forbidden City

Trip Start Jun 09, 2003
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Trip End Jun 02, 2007


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Sunday, June 29, 2003

I was awoken this morning by the other girls in my dormitory at about 9.00am, so I got up and went to the supermarket to get some stuff for breakfast. I then walked to The Forbidden City. It was about an hours walk, but the temperature was 30+ so I was exhausted by the time I got there. Once inside I was befriended by a Chinese Art Student who wanted me to buy one of her paintings to fund her trip to Europe. I'd read about this scam so I told her I had no money and no credit card and managed to escape without having to make a purchase.

The Forbidden City was fantastic and huge. I spent about 2 hours wandering around, but could probably have spent quite a bit longer. Twenty four different emperors have lived in the city during it's time and it was once forbidden for the common people to enter (hence the name). There were courtyards and little alleyways stretching for miles and the most beautiful garden full of temples and ancient trees.

I've booked a trip on the Great Wall tomorrow, so I'm off to bed now as it's a very early start.
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