Beijing: Emperors, crowds, and hutongs

My first 3 days in Beijing started as a whirlwind of emperor palaces, temples, and parks.

It turns out that a palace in China is more of a compound of multiple buildings and courtyards, and less a Neuschwanstein castle. All the buildings within the compound and between palaces follow a similar look & feel. Red walls, columns, green rafters, litle creatures upholding the corners of the up-turned eaves. Beyond that, there have been circular and octagonal temples, gates, shrines, halls....