One building with its giant courtyard within another courtyard. Have you ever seen those Russian dolls where inside the large one is a smaller one, and a smaller one, and so on? Same here. I couldn't believe how each time I entered deeper into the Forbidden City, it felt like I was entering it for the first time. Then when I had to leave, each time I left a gate, I felt like I was back in the same spot. This was a city within a city within a city within a city, and so on. I couldn't believe my eyes.