Forbidden city

The city reaches as far as your imagination; so big that you cannot find the end, from the inside. It seems to go on forever; today the groups of Chinese and a few foreign tourists replace the ancient occupants, but there is room for them all, and more.

And yet outside these city walls, this city within a city, Beijing spreads out out out, and all is covered in a blanket of hot, yellow haze.
 
Peep through the doors and windows at another world, and another, and another...
  Everything red blue green gold
 
  The garden where the stone appears to be growing; an ancient, tranquil plant, undisturbed by breeze or passing feet
 
 
  Roofs are art
 
 
  Decorated indoors and out... even the light  
 

And it's quiet, despite all the tourists; we float on the humid air  

    
 

All text and images copyright © Alison Toon.