We will be traveling to Japan and Beijing in September. We were very disturbed to see pictures showing the main buildings in the Forbidden City under scaffolding. We have also read that many of the sites in Beijing are under scaffolding or renovation in preparation for the Olympics (such as the Temple of Heaven). Has anyone returned recently who can report on this? We are very tempted to change our travel plans to avoid Beijing. It is a long way to go to see buildings buried in scaffolding. We may reschedule for 2009. Any advice would be appreciated.

I was in Beijing in late 2004. Yes, much of the Forbidden City was under scaffolding. It will only get worse leading up to the 2008 olympics. I would suggest you see beijing NOW, as it will be vastly different afterwards.Several other cities have had the olympics and lost some or much of their original charm, in an effort to 'modernize' and develop the infrastructure needed to host an olympics. If you are at all interested in seeing Hutongs, I suggest you go now, as well. Having said this, we loved beijing and had a wonderful time.

We were in Beijing last month and visited most of the main sights. The Forbidden city complex is so large and has so much to see we felt that although a small area was closed off it really didnt lessen the experience at all. The Temple of Heaven was all open except for the 'Echo Wall'. We had a great time and loved Beijing, planning on going back next year.
Cheers
Catherine

We were there for a week in April. Our preception was exactly the same as Mole's: there are several buildings under repair in the Forbidden City, but the site is so vast that it does not spoil the experience. I should add that Zhengyangmen (the gate on the south side of Tiananmen Square) and the pavillion on the the hilltop in Jingshan Park were also under scaffolding.

I wouldn't let this deter me from another visit. Given the number of historic sites in Beijing, I suspect you'd still find scaffolding in 2009, but just on different structures.

Anselm

Restoration work at the FC in late 2004 provided one of the most polite signs I saw in China: "This ancient building is renovating. Excuse me for bringing trouble to you".