A Half-day Trip in the Presidential Palace
At the end of the National Day holidays, I was invited by one of my close friends James to visit the long-anticipated Presidential Palace, also called China Modern History Museum. Located in the downtown of Nanjing City, it is seen as one of the most important landmarks that welcomes millions of visitors at home and abroad.
14:00 Ticket Office
We waited in a long queue for half an hour before getting tickets. Lots of scalpers peddled their individually-gained tickets to us at a relatively lower price. It seemed nobody was buying their products for fear of being cheated.
14:30 Main Gate
The sunny day reminded us it's a perfect opportunity to take a picture before the western-style Main Gate which served as the only pathway into this magnificent monument. We went through the ticket check and then got in through the half-oval-shaped left-side door. What first came to our eyes was the traditional Chinese-style Main Hall, lined with luxuriant trees with a swish pf flickering leaves in the breeze. On the top of the hall hung a board on which four Chinese characters "天下为公" was inscribed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. We listened to the tour guide's interpretation while appreciating those delicate wall paintings and stone sculptures.
15:15 Reception Hall
A corridor, where tired visitors rested briefly on its two-sided wooden benches, led us to the Reception Hall. Numerous historical remains, which documented the former governance of the Nationalist Government, were housed in this building. We observed every item of exhibits with full attention and read each word that introduced the political life at that time. Walking upstairs we came to the second floor which acted as offices of high positions. We strolled alongside each office that basically bore a similar layout, such a ceiling fan, sevral purple sofas, a secretaire, etc. The aisle was filled with people taking photos of those rarely-seen furniture.
16:30 Western Garden
We went straight to the Western Garden as it's approaching the closing time. This garden was designed in a traditional Chinese style with multiple and attics on the shore of the lake. Alongside the lake always stood a flood of people watching fancy carps of various sizes that could allegedly bring good luck to people. We squeezed into the 14.5-meter-long timber-mimic marble boat that lied in the center of the lake.
After a short break at the sitting area, we got out of the palace through the side door and got on the bus back to school. I believe it will be an unforgettable experience when looking back in the future.
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