Dave Barry visits the famous Forbidden City while covering the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Here's a badly exposed picture of me near the famous picture of Chairman Mao at the famous Forbidden City. Chairman Mao is also on all of the money and many souvenirs. He is like the Hannah Montana of China. DAVE BARRY/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Here's the famous Forbidden City. DAVE BARRY/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Beijing's Forbidden City presents a series of gates within gates, cities within cities. JANE WOOLDRIDGE / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

The Forbidden City was once closed to all but the imperial court. Since the 1920s, it has been a public museum. JANE WOOLDRIDGE / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Beijing's Forbidden City, formerly the imperial palace, presents a series of 'secret' courtyards and cities within a city. JANE WOOLDRIDGE / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Zheng Yi Cong, 4, poses in front of the Meridian Gate of Beijing's Forbidden City. JANE WOOLDRIDGE / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Pomp and circumstance: Military guards outside the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square play a role both of ceremony and security -- much like guards in front of monuments in Washington, D.C. JANE WOOLDRIDGE / MIAMI HERALD STAFF