Where do you want to visit in Beijing this weekend? Maybe not many would love to go outdoors because it is really cold outside and staying indoors seems to be the best way to enjoy one’s weekend time. But if you ask me this question, I can tell you I want to visit the Palace Museum. Why?
Numerous people have talked about visiting the Palace Museum on weekends and even overestimated its grandeur and perfect design. For me who has been to the palace twice or three times before, it is a good time to soak into the ancient imperial air again to make myself free from daily trouble, tiredness and annoyance. Previously I visited there alone, and I will visit this palace of architectural wonders of the ancient times of China with a good friend of mine this weekend.
I have been there twice before and become awed by its gigantic and perfectly designed buildings. Actually I have no clear plan for this trip, but I think I will have lots of places to visit once I arrive in the city forbidden to enter for civilians in ancient times of China, for I have a good friend, who has some knowledge about Chinese history and culture like I do and is also curious about things of the past happened in the Forbidden City. For one thing, he has never been there before and now probably this is an opportunity to show off my knowledge of the city in front of a newbie of the Forbidden City.
A few days ago I read a WeChat story telling something about the carving patterns of the windows of the Forbidden City. Truth be told, I have never really cared about that. Yet, according to that WeChat story, even the window flower patterns signal the statuses of those living in the Forbidden City hundreds of years ago. For example, the window carving patterns of the Hall of Supreme Harmony quite differ from those of the rooms where emperors’ concubines once resided. The Hall of Supreme Harmony has the highest status, which other buildings of the Forbidden City cannot imitate. This time I will have a closer look at these patterns.
In fact, another important reason why I visit this ancient city of buildings is I want to have a good taste of the delicacies in Xidan, only one stop away from Tiananmen West, where you can enter the Forbidden City. The restaurant is named Wenfu Master Chef, where I once tasted crabs, sashimi, beef, mutton and desserts. It is indeed delicious! More importantly, I love drinking the Chinese and German beers it provides. I hope I can have a good time with my friends at the restaurant after touring the Palace Museum.
