I have discovered the key to National Defense.

The Forbidden City...the world's last remaining palace complex...sits in Central Beijing as imposing today as it's ever been. I hadn't thought too much about the place previously, until I read an e-mail description from a friend of mine; "The forbidden palace was amazing.. it's like 1000 km square or something outrageous like that.. entry before the communist take over would have been death. Now it's 60 Yuan." (LP)

Comprised of over 8,700 rooms in 980 buildings it would take months to explore it all, if you were allowed. It's still a very impressive place but since it was my second visit, I think some of my awe was gone. Over the past 600 years there have been several invasion attempts on the city itself - walls, moats and armies have all be utilized to try and protect the city...with varying degrees of success. You know what I think would work...crowds. I mean hoards and hoards of people. I developed this brilliant theory while visiting this World Heritage Site with all 17,000,000 Beijing residents and their out of town guests. If I had been an invading leader and was confronted with that mass of people...I would have packed up my troops and turned tail.

But like good tourists, we traipsed through this massive sight, snapping random photos and staring at the displays that with elaborate Chinese explanations explaining the significance of the item, it's history and purpose. The English translation was much more simplified...to a single word. Gorgeous regal costumes would be labeled "clothing". I definitely felt like I was missing something. That was until Will took it upon himself to give us an impromptu tour, explaining in great detail, the antics of the Emperor and his concubines plus a history of buildings such as the "Hall of Mental Cultivation".

Our day continued with visits to the observation platform at Jingshan Hill (fantastic view of the traditional Forbidden City nestled in the metropolis of modern Beijing) and a walking tour of the Temple of Heaven Park (another previously visited place I’ve already written about) before concluding at the tourist must see a Chinese acrobatic show - full of contortionists, dare devil motorcycle riders and extreme gymnastics…and yes, beer is served.