Forbidden City

Zhōngshān Park 中山公园

西长安街

The park offers a pleasant alternative route from Tiān’ān Mén Square to the Forbidden City’s main entrance. It was the site of a Liáo dynasty temple, and then from 1421 the Altar of Land and Grain (社稷坛, Shèjì Tán), where the emperors made important sacrifices in…

Tài Miào 太庙

东长安街
Substantial temple much older than most of the Forbidden City offers quieter means of approach to the palace

The Tiān’ān Mén is flanked by two parks that are almost always overlooked by visitors, particularly the one containing the Tài Miào or…

A Storm in a Coffee Cup

Back in 2000 the Forbidden City management leased a small space to the ubiquitous coffee chain Starbucks. Following adverse comment a few years later the company reduced its signage to make its presence a little more discreet.

Monumental Mismanagement

Patching up the Forbidden City

Visitors are frequently shocked that such a major monument has been allowed to decay. In 1999 the Forbidden City received a long overdue but only partial touch-up, with some courtyards re-paved and roofs mown, but substantial…