Vietnam - The Ancient Trading Town of Hoi An
Foto: Mao above the entrance of the Forbidden City (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
China - Looking across the square, I see on the opposite side a large flagpole and Mao’s portrait hanging on the wall of the Forbidden City. The familiar image. I cross the square diagonally towards the Forbidden City. Walking under Mao’s portrait, I enter the complex. The Forbidden City was the residence of the emperors from the Ming dynasty. Ordinary Chinese were not allowed to enter the complex, which explains the name “Forbidden City.” Today, the complex is open to everyone, and tourists gladly take advantage of this. I see the imperial throne in the Hall of the Tiger. From this throne, the emperor spoke. I visit various reception halls. It’s special to walk among the beautiful buildings. In the inner part of the Forbidden City, the emperor lived with his family. I visit the different palaces and halls. After wandering through the Forbidden City for several hours, I feel I’ve had enough. Although I haven’t seen all the buildings, I leave through the back side. The city simply consists of too many buildings to comprehend. Behind the complex, I enter the park and climb the hill to the pavilion. From the pavilion’s terrace, I have a beautiful view over the Forbidden City. From above, I look back over the route I walked through the city.
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