Forbidden no more as visitors return

While she was sad to see the closed doors of the galleries, Zhuang was pragmatic. She originally planned to visit several key temporary exhibitions during the Spring Festival (which fell on Jan 25), but she was unable to due to the closure.

"I worry about missing them," she says, "but, only walking outdoors is still better than not being able to go inside the palace at all."

Perhaps the pandemic has given people a stronger inclination to seek out some familiar beauty, like the Forbidden City.

Despite living in Beijing, senior high school students Fan Yuxuan and Hong Qizhuo have not visited the palace in years.

However, the pair have admired exquisite photos of the Forbidden City posted online, particularly after snowfall.

"We struggle to find the time because of (a tight) school calendar," Fan says. "When we finally decide to make the trip during winter break, the outbreak of COVID-19 halted it."

Hong adds: "Since we've waited for so long, we don't want to wait any longer."

For parents, taking in the nation's history and culture is good for the education of their children.

The morning of May 1 was given a sort of ceremonial aura by Sun Yuanyuan, a teacher who gets up at 3 am with his 11-year-old son. Together with several other children and their mothers, they rode bikes to attend the national flag-raising ceremony on Tiananmen Square at the dawn. Then, they headed to the Palace Museum nearby.

"I visited alone in December," Sun says. "But, at this special time, I feel it is particularly meaningful for children to know more about the country's history. I didn't hesitate for one moment as soon as I saw the news of the reopening.

"There is a privilege to coming here now: There are so few people," Sun smiles.