The Way Out

As we leave the Forbidden City, I can't help but notice these giant gates. Lisa, our tour guide, explained that the door studs on the gates of the Forbidden City were made of brass and plated with gold. Lustrous, they add to the splendor and magnificence of the imperial palace. All the gates used by the emperor have 9 X 9 or 81 studs, as the number nine represented the supremacy of the monarch. Read more