You’ve probably done the Forbidden City before. Let’s do it again, together with Lars’ Ulrik Thom, from Beijing Postcards, whose passion for Beijing history will renew your enthusiasm for exploring this marvelous city. 

Lars will answer questions such as why Chinese parents of newborn children travel from far away regions to stand on the Tiananmen Gate? What was everyday life really like for an emperor, an empress, numerous concubines and thousands of eunuchs? Where are the toilets and kitchens? How did you become a eunuch and why did the younger eunuchs wear an extra layer of leather on their buttocks? Why did the concubines of the Jiaqing Emperor try to strangle him? Was the Dragon Lady, Empress Dowager Cixi, really so evil? We’ll hear stories of beautiful concubines and jealous empresses, lonely emperors and opium fumes, sneaky and corrupt eunuchs. All this and much more, all set in the most splendid piece of architecture set right in the center of Beijing.

Date: Wednesday, February 22
Time: 10am to 2pm
Meet in Sanlitun to travel together
Cost: 300 rmb
To register, send an email to averilinbeijing@yahoo.com

Please include your phone number when registering.