October 1st, the Chinese National Day, I intended to rise early and take in the expected celebrations in Tiananmen Square. I did not make it.  Still jet-lagged from my ten hour flight from London, I overslept.  Rising swiftly, I quickly got dressed, and  grabbed some breakfast downstairs in the restaurant, at the excellent Novotel Hotel where I was staying

in the downtown area of Dongcheng, and headed for the ‘Forbidden City’ complex.

Today called the Palace Museum – (The locals call it Gu-Gong which means Ancient Palace), it offers a striking insight about the Emperors who ruled China many years ago. It was so impressive that I spent a whopping five hours there; walking through an imperious Meridan Gate, gliding into numerous halls of Harmony and Palaces, all offering splendid architectural styles of the day. And then on towards the revealing Treasure Gallery with its minature icons, and finally exiting through the Imperial Garden.   Enjoy the photos.