Around Beijing--Forbidden City

Walking around Beijing, I had to always be mindful that I wasn't going to get run down by a long line of cars, each wheeling by in more of a hurry than the last. That made it quite exciting and convenient as I always enjoy a city that permits j-walking.
Here are some pictures of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Chairman Mao's Tomb. He was a vibrant yellowish, plasitc skin, perfect hair. Couldn't stand longer than 10 seconds though before guards urged us on. Don't look too close...
The entrance to the Forbidden City. Mao, again.




The main stretch of the Forbidden City is kind of a drag, but to the sides are endless little alleys and backstreets.



There are hundreds of these giant copper urns; in the day they would have been full of water, heated gently in the winter to keep from freezing, to douse any fires should something spark.






Saw Mao Zedong today. He looked a healthy orange, glowing; waxy, but otherwise well preserved. Spent hours wandering the alleys and courtyards of the Forbidden City, the Emperors Palace. It was unexciting but impressive nonetheless.