Nowadays, more commoners swarm the place as workers...repairs are ongoing. Probably especially in preparation for the Olympics.
The buildings with round tops (symbolizing heaven) and square bottoms (symbolizing earth) are favorites of mine.
We entered through the north gate into the gardens, thick with wonderfully gnarled cypresses. We had just missed the peonies' flowering (April), a great favorite here in China, many many varieties.
The other parts of the city felt quite stark and barren after being amongst the trees and flowers and crazy artificial mountains made of rocks imported from other parts of China.
Here in the gardens was where the emperors and other big shots would come to write poetry or dally with the concubines. Nice and restful for them...not so great for the servants/slaves.
The buildings with round tops (symbolizing heaven) and square bottoms (symbolizing earth) are favorites of mine.
We entered through the north gate into the gardens, thick with wonderfully gnarled cypresses. We had just missed the peonies' flowering (April), a great favorite here in China, many many varieties.
The other parts of the city felt quite stark and barren after being amongst the trees and flowers and crazy artificial mountains made of rocks imported from other parts of China. 
Here in the gardens was where the emperors and other big shots would come to write poetry or dally with the concubines. Nice and restful for them...not so great for the servants/slaves.
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