Forbidden City and Jing Shan Park

[M&T]

I am posting this here on Asia hoping someone can help.

 

When we are on a formal group tour in the Forbidden City, will we go to the Palace of Eternal Harmony where there is a clock display? My husband saw this display 20 years ago and wants to see it again and wants me to see it. He thought it was amazing!

We have one free day (meaning not on a group tour so we can do anything we want) in Beijing. We may go back to the Forbidden City at 830 AM and enter through the north gate to see the gardens and buildings at that end. We also plan to go to Jing Shan at 7 AM. Is this park a good place to see local people doing Tai Chi. Also, our free day is a Saturday. Thanks. Marlyne

[WIT]

Marlyne - I returned from Viking Cultural Delights cruise/tour three weeks ago. Our tour started in Beijing and ended in Hong Kong. Our Forbidden City tour did not include any unforgettable clocks but it sounds like you can buy a ticket for the clock display for 10 rmb. Here's the link:

 

http://www.dpm.org.cn/english/C/Cindex.htm

 

Early AM in any Chinese city park is a good place to see local folks doing Tai Chi, ballroom dancing, exercises, caligraphy, stretching, etc. We did not go to Jing Shan park but it is immediately North of the Forbidden City. Weekends are usually crowded so go early. Here is a link:

 

http://www.khulsey.com/travel/china_beijing_forbidden-city2.html

 

We practiced Tai Chi every morning on our cruise boat. You can see photos of our cruise/tour at:

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/billwitowski

 

Finally, the largest China thread on Cruise Critic is not located here in the River Cruise section. It's under 'Other Cruise Lines' . You can find it at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=252201&page=1

WIT