My favourite part of the Forbidden City would have been the part just before the last gate --- the Imperial Gardens, but our tour guides didn't agree so didn't leave any time for that. After strolling through palace after palace, they RAN us through the Gardens to get to our bus, then supper, then opera. Here's a pic that I took on the run.
And here's what we missed, according to the internet: The garden was built in 1417 for the exclusive enjoyment of the imperial family. Patterned walkways, trees hundreds of years old, halls, pavilions and other structures, sculptures --- 12,000 square meters of beautiful gardens. Had I realized it was there, I would have gone straight there and waited for the group to catch up.
https://www.facebook.com/dixie.m.goode/posts/10208648538868879 I'm not sure if this will work but a few of my China pictures are here. I agree, the gardens would be wonderful to see on your own schedule. Wish we could have seen them in their Glory days.
