Forbidden City's Phase One Expansion Complete

    BEIJING, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Aside from the Great Wall, the Forbidden City is China's most famous tourist destination.  Receiving tens of thousands of visitors per day it get to be a pretty crowded city.  To alleviate the congestion, the Chinese government has just completed restoration and opening of previously closed sections of the palace.

    The central axis of the Forbidden City has long been open, but its thousands of courtyards on the sides have been mainly closed.  The renovations have concentrated on opening these previously closed courtyards.  The courtyards had been occupied by government institutions who have been relocated.

    Tour groups tend to follow the central axis through the Forbidden City which can get congested.  The China Guide ( http://www.TheChinaGuide.com ) takes its visitors off the main trail and allows time to explore the newly opened courtyards in the Forbidden City, which are missed by most groups as they rush through.

    "We do not put a time pressure on our clients and allow them to meander through the Forbidden City's hidden rooms and museums with the help of our guide.  It's when I get out of the crowds and am standing in a quiet courtyard I can imagine the history that must have occurred there.  I like sitting on a bench looking at the worn pavement stones and classical architecture.  In this quiet environment the people who passed their lives here and the events that occurred can be felt," comments Peter Danford, the American owner and manager of The China Guide.

    The China Guide's tours run on a flexible time schedule allowing guests to linger in places they find interesting.  Tours are mainly private, with guides and drivers trained in the finer aspects of western style service.

    A western owned and managed travel agency, The China Guide aims to treat its guests like family.  There are no factory shopping stops, meals are in quality local restaurants, guides are carefully screened and client satisfaction is the priority.

    For complete details on The China Guide's tours and staff visit http://www.TheChinaGuide.com .