The Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Postcard

Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the center of Beijing, China. It is the third largest city square in the World and main gate to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace for twenty-four emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was forbidden to enter without special permission of the emperor.

The Meridian Gate is the main gate to the Forbidden City. Everyone who entered the Forbidden City in the old days had to observe the strict rules concerning the total five doors of the Meridian Gate. The central doorway was for the exclusive use of the emperor. However, an empress was granted the privilege of using this opening once, and only once, on her wedding day.

Stamps

(left) One World One Dream - 2008 Beijing Olympic special sheet: boxing

(middle) Protected wildlife, the Brown Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum)