Beijing 2024 - Forbidden City Treasures - Part 1

There were many to-visit places in the Forbidden City that the tour guides said that one shouldn't miss. I had a few on my to-do list, but finding them before closing time was kinda challenging due to the large area to cover. I tried my best to navigate through the palace grounds using these signs, but it doesn't help that sometimes the names can be confusing too. Is Treasure Gallery same as Treasury??? I hate unclear signs, and the spectrum in me will usually starts to shine through when I can't understand written instructions. It may be clear to everyone else, but I need very clear direct instructions!

I did somehow managed to find the famous 9 dragon wall mural! It wasn't as impressive as I though I would feel..... In my mind, it was a lot more bigger, and maybe grander.... I didn't expect it to be just part of a wall dividing palace ground..... I thought it would be a standalone feature by itself in it's own glory....

I think eventually we found the Treasury, or Treasure Gallery through these red gates and wall.

I love these red and grey corridors. Very good for taking photos! Love the carving on the window panels too! And how the corridor seems to just go on forever! You couldn't even see the end of it from this photo!

Are we inside the gallery yet? I wasn't too sure. But we saw some portrait of emperors and such.

I can read this in chinese! 7 Treasures! We must be near!

Soon the treasures of the palace revealed themselves. 

Some more impressive than others. Like this tea pot. Why do people from the olden days have so much time to make such beautiful things? Were they for daily use?  How do they wash the inside of these pots? I have so many questions!

Pretty little plates and cups. Seriously, how do they clean them without destroying all the art work and damaging it? I love find bone china, and I stress over taking care of them! The stains! The scratching! The cracks and chips! I guess that's where all the thousands of servants come in handle. Even then, I think I would stress over how they take care of my precious processions! 

I mean, look at this jade bowl! Is it only for decoration? I know Japanese would use every single beautiful objects in their house as a serving plate. What about the Chinese? I bet this would make a very nice salad bowl, or maybe a Chinese dessert bowl, like for Cheng Teng or something :D