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The old imperial palace - a town-in-the-town, not accessable for "mortals" - is a showcase of traditional Chinese building: Wood structures covered with glazed terracotta tiles. As a side effect of the 2008 Olympics, the complex is restored to it's former colourfull state. Alas, it was raining all day...
00-Map-Tower4 * In one of the gates, there is this map (in Chinese...) * 1260 x 1833 * (213KB)
01-Tower-1 * In front of the Forbiden City, or even the Square of Heavenly Peace, are two guard towers - this is the outer one. * 1713 x 1185 * (232KB)
02-Tower-2 * The Archer's Tower. Archers would defend the Forbidden City from here, sending their arrows down on the enemy. * 1704 x 1120 * (217KB)
03-AssemblyHall * The Hall of the People - the assembly hall of the Communist party * 1932 x 1017 * (226KB)
04-MainGate * Walking towards the main gate - in the rain. * 1950 x 1305 * (334KB)
  00-Map-Tower4  
  01-Tower-1  
  02-Tower-2  
  03-AssemblyHall  
  04-MainGate  
05-ThirdGate * Passed the main gate, the first square, looking onto the second gate building * 1984 x 1488 * (443KB)
06-Canal * A canal crosses the square - it will come handy in case of fire. * 1984 x 1488 * (296KB)
07-SecondGate * The main gate building seen from the inside. * 1980 x 1134 * (299KB)
08-Detail-1 * The part of the complex has it's restoration finished. It's pity that it was raining all day, because of the colours and patterns. This is one of the alleyways aside the first square. * 1764 x 1383 * (336KB)
09-Detail-2 * Beams carrying the roof are all painted. * 1956 x 1215 * (416KB)
  05-ThirdGate  
  06-Canal  
  07-SecondGate  
  08-Detail-1  
  09-Detail-2  
10-Detail-3 * Pillar construction - carrying all the roof's weight. There is no uncovered woord anywhere! * 1984 x 1488 * (483KB)
11-Gate-4 * Overview of the gate building on the North edge if the square. * 1978 x 1179 * (276KB)
12-Detail-4 * Another buidling means another pattern. * 1984 x 1488 * (464KB)
13-Detail-5 * Construction in wood: masked, for a part, by decoration. * 1452 x 1912 * (369KB)
14-MainHall * The large palace is being restored at the moment * 1981 x 1329 * (394KB)
  10-Detail-3  
  11-Gate-4  
  12-Detail-4  
  13-Detail-5  
  14-MainHall  
15-Detail-6 * but buildings aside already have their colours restored. * 1984 x 1488 * (427KB)
16-Detail-7 * Even on the inside, you need to twist your head to see it... * 1984 x 1488 * (423KB)
17-Detail-8 * but just looking up shows the richness of details. Every beam is differently patterned. * 1488 x 1984 * (496KB)
18-Bowl * There is a number of these bowls. These were important: they held the water that was needed in case of a fire - and since the construction is all wood, it's no surprise the water may have run out and buildings burned down. It has happened several times to some. * 1984 x 1488 * (561KB)
19-InsenceBurners * Incense burners on the stairs to the main palace. * 1984 x 1488 * (453KB)
  15-Detail-6  
  16-Detail-7  
  17-Detail-8  
  18-Bowl  
  19-InsenceBurners  
$text.updated-on 24-Jun-2008 20:37
(c) 2008 Willem Grooters