A Pretty Good Day

Today I was able to walk along the Great Wall and visit the Forbidden City. Both are truly amazing places. I don't believe that one is able to fully understand the enormity of the Great Wall without seeing it in person. It goes on FOREVER. It is built on and over mountains making some places extremely difficult to walk along. Even though the original wall was started in the seventh century BC, the majority of the existing wall was built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and measures 5660 kilometers. I can't help but wonder how the actual construction occurred. Obviously a lot of blood, sweat, and tears from the subjects in the land.

The Forbidden City is equally impressive, but for very different reasons. While the sheer size of the Great Wall overwhelms, it is the remarkable detail and architecture in the Forbidden City that is impressive. Each of the great halls is an artwork in and of itself. There are detailed rock carvings leading up to the hall. The outer walls are made up of intricately detailed doors and shutters which are opened in the summer to provide ventilation. The insides contain elaborate thrones, carvings, sculptures, and other furnishings. The 600 year history of the Forbidden City is evident while walking through it. Many of the side structures are undergoing what appear to be major renovations. While this made some of the pictures less appealing, it definitely did not diminish the experience.

My job requires a great deal of travel. This is difficult for both me and my family. Luckily sometimes there is time to see incredible sites such as these that I probably wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to see.