Forbidden treasures taken in Beijing



There's always a heavy military presence in front of the Forbidden City.

 China's communist rulers are no doubt red faced with embarrassment this morning after reports began circulating that seven pieces of art have been stolen from the Palace Museum within the heavily guarded Forbidden City.

Talk about Forbidden treasure.

It's the first such robbery at the most famous of all Beijing landmarks in the last 20 years. Police are reported to be looking for a 27-year-old man in connection with the theft.

After just visiting the Forbidden City on my latest trip to Beijing last month, I can't understand how the thief  made off with the precious pieces since the entrance and exits are so heavily guarded by police and troops.

Is all this new-found wealth making the Chinese soft?

The stolen items - which were on loan to the museum - include a purse and women's make-up cases that date from the beginning of the 19th century. Some are encrusted with precious stones and are worth millions.

News reports say the thief got into the complex by knocking a hole in a wall.

You can bet heads will roll for this breach of security.

Photos from a Sunday morning stroll through the ancient streets of Beijing

DATELINE BEIJING - Just thought I'd share some photos I took today while walking the streets of China's capital on a sunny day.

The photo of the monk was captured outside the Lama Temple in the oldest part of Beijing - it's the only temple of its kind outside Tibet and it's where the Lama came to study back in the 17th century. The grounds are beautiful and the place is a real oasis of calm from the noise and chaos happening outside on the traffic-clogged streets of Beijing. Inside, the grand Buddha is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen - the female features are stunning.

Then I walked through the imposing red doors with the lion doornob into the Forbiden City where I saw a little girl doing some forbidden things on the sacred items. For lunch I thought I'd patrol Snack Street in the city's Central Business District but passed on the skewered fried bugs and accepted a vendors offer of some fresh corn on the cob. While walking back to my hotel, I captured nature displaying its graffiti on some ancient walls and outside the city's main catholic church, I witnessed wedding parties jockey for position to snap just the right photo with the church acting as a background.

Beijing truly is a beautiful city - especially on a sunny Sunday morning.