Forbidden City Hotel, Beijing

I visited the Forbidden city on a trip to Beijing in February 2000. Now famous as the location of filming "the last emperor", these magnificent buildings were once the home of the Emperor's of China and forbidden teritory to the general public.

I went on a guided tour of the Forbidden City and I was most grateful for the guide, who was extremely well informed and interesting, and without whom, the trip would have been boring and meaningless. The City is basically a collection of buildings, surrounded by courtyards. On the way in, you are ambushed by Chinese people trying to sell you postcards. The guide talked about meridian lines running through the city and the architecture of the buidings. The whole place is like one big maze, and you don't really see anything other than the courtyards and the buidings, which you can't go into. Inside some of them are articles of interest, such as vases and furniture, but you have to look at these through dusty windows.

I would not advise visiting the Forbidden City unless you have an interest in either history or architecture. You should also be prepared for lots of walking!

A word of advice - don't use the toilets in the forbidden city! You have to pay and it is just a hole in the ground.