From the Winter Palace Descended from a tunnel in the limestone rocks to the borders of the lake where a fine marble promenade flanked the water with a row of compartments where dwell the numerous wine or concubines, if the emperors in former times. This building was highly ornate + extended the whole length (2 miles) of the promenade. The walls + ceiling were ornamented in gay Chinese painting of lands- capes, hunting, fishing + dom- estic scenes. About noon we entered the Forbidden City then its pink or red wall. Within this quiet without much human life. The buildings were gay with golden yellow tiled roofs, green + blue gables + white marble approaches + courts. Some of the buildings were covered by green tiles.