TIANANMEN SQUARE 
The Tiananmen Gate was first built in the 1420s in the Ming Dynasty. During the demise of the Ming Dynasty, heavy fighting between Li Zicheng and the early Qing emperors damaged (or perhaps destroyed) the gate. The Tiananmen square was originally designed and built in Beijing in 1651.


THE FORBIDDEN CITY
Our guide ZHANG Li Jun (Li Jun is his first name, which means beautiful gentleman) was an excellent guide. Both Murray and myself were impressed that she was so knowledgeable and pointing out so many of the details in and around the buildings of the Forbidden City that contain a total of 9,999 rooms!  No less no more…