The length of the trip from Cairo to Bejing may be long, but it's worth it just to spend the day in China's celebrated Forbidden City.
"Forbidden City" is an English translation of the Chinese name for the Imperial Palace, Zijin Cheng. There is no part of Bejing that more fully embodies the beauty of ancient China than this ancient metropolis, with its two Taoist shrines and its plethora of Buddhist temples scattered about the palatial grounds.
What I found most striking were the large red doors of the so-called Palace of Tranquil Longevity. Guarded by guilded lions, visitors are haunted by the stark impression left by the shiny brass studs on the striking red facade.
According to Chinese legend, rubbing the doors' brass studs will bring the visitor untold luck, health and prosperity.
