beijing, day 4, forbidden city (lomosite, 15 sept '04)

tiananmen square is just that: a square. mao's mausoleum attracted hordes. i wasn't bothered.

the forbidden city is HUUUUUUUGE!!!other than that, it wasn't very impressive. why?

1. not in very good condition, not well maintained.
2. the buildings all looked pretty much the same.
3. too many tourists, local and foreign. but mostly local

japan's temples, shrines, gardens and castles are by far, better maintained and more interesting. ok, the castles all look about the same. but i lurv the temples and shrines in kyoto. they are THE BEST!!

true, the japanese borrowed their architecture from the chinese. but the japanese do it so well: take from one culture, copy it and improve on it. they excel at it!

ok, the cedar trees were the saving grace of the forbidden city. also at tai miao. contorted barks in all manner of shapes, they are very impressive. i'd go just to see the cedars.

i am no history buff, therefore the historical implications these buildings hold don't really move me. Artifacts bore me (unless they are displayed or arranged in a manner never done before, like the idols at the tokyo national museum), and architecture...well, what can i say? they all looked the same! hall to hall, building to building.

give me japan anyday! yes, i'm a turncoat and proud of it!

shocking discovery: starbucks has infiltrated the forbidden city!!! where next? the great wall??