Standing the test of time

MY IRELAND-SIZED sense of distance had got me in trouble-again.

The day before, I had sneaked a look at the map of Beijing and figured I could enjoy a pleasant stroll back to my budget hotel in the Dongcheng district.

But it is never wise to underestimate the vastness of such a city. Spectacular as its halls, temples and audience chambers are, the Forbidden City is — by Chinese standards — a relatively new addition, its basic layout established by Emperor Yong Le in 1406-20, using a million workers.