Thank you for the kind words and the terrific link.

Can't say why I've been on such an Asian culture and history kick (having read five straight books on Tibet and China, as well as delving into Volume 4 of Needham's encyclopedia), but there is some kind of symbiosis going on because my 26-year-old son showed up the other day and casually mentioned that he too has been on an Asian kick, and that he is learning to speak Chinese, as well.

He can't say why, but . . .

Folks interested in seeing “first-hand” what life was like in imperial China might be interested in a free online 3D virtual environment . . . created by a partnership of IBM and the Palace Museum in Beijing . . . that allows visitors to wander through the Forbidden City on an average day in the imperial era.

One can assume a particular avatar – soldier, eunuch etc. – and wander with other virtual tourists through the Forbidden City, watching the Emperor and his court go about their daily rituals, or take a tour, take part in archery contests etc.

Here's a link:

http://www.beyondspaceandtime.org/FCBSTWeb/web/...