China's Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is also known as the Palace Museum. It is the largest and most well preserved imperial residence in China today. Located in the center of Beijing, The Forbidden City was built between 1406 and 1420 under Ming Emperor Yongle, and served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties. Ming Emperor Zhudi was the first emperor to live there. It is 3,150 feet long from north to south and 2,460 feet wide from east to west. It has 9,900 rooms and halls containing many precious relics. A 170-foot wide moat encircles the Forbidden City along with 32-foot high walls. There are four entrances, the Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate (Gate of Military Prowess) to the north, the Xihua Gate (Western Flowery Gate) to the west, and the Donghua Gate (Eastern Flowery Gate) to the east.The word "forbidden" is quite literal, as the imperial palace was heavily guarded and off-limits to ordinary people. As the residence for emperors and their families, most of the walls of the imperial palace were painted red and roofs were covered with yellow glazed tiles. The red and yellow combination forms a strong color contrast, representing the absolute authority, supremacy, and richness of feudal emperors. In 1987, UNESCO also listed the Forbidden City in the World Heritage List. It is the largest palace in the world.

China Turning Olympic Venues into Tourist Attractions

The Olympic hoopla, pomp and circumstance has long faded and world leaders have since returned home. But three months after the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Chinese coming in droves to the Bird's Nest and Water Cube to remember one of their country's proudest moments. Read More

Hong Kong - A Visit to Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is the highest peak in Hong Kong Island with an altitude of over 1600 feet and has been considered as a landmark of the island. Read More

The Shaolin Temple and the Fighting Monks

The Shaolin Temple has many legends and mysteries surround it. The origin of martial arts and kung fu surround the vague mysteries of the Shaolin Temple. Read More

Yu Yuan Gardens of Shanghai

Located in the Old Town of Shanghai, The Yu Yuan Gardens were built in the Ming Dynasty and are 400 years old. Read More

Good Shopping in Beijing

Here is some helpful information on three wonderful shopping districts in Beijing: Qianmen-Dashalan Street, Wangfujing Street, Xidan Business Street. Read More