US President Barack Obama visits the Forbidden City in Beijing November 17, 2009.
Anyone who has visited Beijing's Forbidden City, the historic former home of China's emperors during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, knows even an entire day inside the massive architectural masterpiece is barely enough time to scratch the surface.
And for a president on a tight schedule, a whistle-stop tour of the landmark was always likely to be more of a photo opportunity than a learning experience.
But for United States President Barack Obama, a visit to the world-famous complex was not to be missed, no matter how limited his time.
Obama took a break from his diplomatic mission to Asia yesterday to spend 50 minutes inside the Forbidden City, which is also known as the Palace Museum.
Today, he will carve a little more me-time from his busy four-day agenda in China to visit the Great Wall before he leaves the country for the next leg of his tour in the Republic of Korea.
"It's beautiful. It's a magnificent place to visit. I will come back with my girls and my wife," Obama said before leaving the museum through the northern Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu Men).
Fifty minutes earlier, Obama and Forbidden City curator Zheng Xinmiao had entered the palace through the main entrance on the south side - the Meridian Gate (Wu Men). The president had walked along the museum's central axis, which is also the north-south line along which Beijing is orientated.
