Oops, Was That Forbidden?

Well, we and thousands of other people have visited the FORBIDDEN City.  It used to be forbidden and now it is just a tourist trap.  We paid 90RMB ($13.21) each plus another 40RMB ($5.87) for an audio guide that was unnecessary.  The complex is as big as a city and the architecture is pretty nice, but that is where the awe ends.  There was some special tour going on where security personnel started to rope off most of the complex and it became more of a cattle corral than historically significant.  I'd say the nicest part of the city was the garden area that was pretty relaxing and a welcome variation from old chinese architecture and grand stone courtyards.

What makes getting to these sites easy is that they are all accessible from the Tiananmen or Tiananmen East subway stations.  From those exits you are offered Mao's tomb, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the National Museum and several other important-to-the-Chinese attractions.  Everything is heavily veiled in Party motif and security cameras.  If there weren't hawkers trying to sell ice cream and tiny Chinese flags, then it could have been just after the revolution.  

The square is pretty impressive in its size and location.  It being surrounded by museums and Party buildings makes it historic and foreboding in context.  There were a ton of people just hanging out, which seems to be a Chinese past time.  There is always someone trying to make a buck, but why not.  The area isn't too photogenic, but I kind of wanted tanks lined up for photo-ops.