Forbidden Fruit

Yesterday, I wanted to see two of the museums inside the Forbidden City, but they closed earlier than they were supposed to. Annoyed and unwilling to pay the overall entrance fee again when I would have to pay to enter the two museums themselves, I complained. Well, I guess I complained to the right person, because she talked to an entrance guard who told me to come back first thing in the morning. He let me in before the park opened and, aside from a few workers, I had the Forbidden City to myself.

I mean, no one... it was magical... imagining what it would have been like in imperial times.
... absolutely empty... I wish I had my bicycle.
By now, you are probably wondering what my obsession is with bicycles and the Forbidden City. All I can say is that you need to watch The Last Emperor. Great movie. And all will be explained.

On the way into the first of these two museums, is the famous Nine Dragon Screen. Here is one of those dragons. The side buildings contain the museum of Imperial Treasures and Gifts winding through them.
The area is also laced with more gardens...

... and cloisters.

I stumbled across the palace theater, which had multiple levels for executing the action of a play.

The main stage even has its own second level to allow for more elaborate performances.

The second museum contained large, intricate timepieces from all over the world.

The museums were nice, but nothing beats walking through the city, straight through from the Meridian Gate to the private residences for fifteen minutes, and not seeing another soul.