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Only talking about the main complex of Angkor Wat.
I've only been to the Forbidden City, but for me Angkor seems more mysterious, interesting and amazing. The Forbidden City is still cool, but it gets a bit repetitious over time and I didn't get enough time to explore it fully. I found the Summer Palace more interesting.
Which do you prefer? Which is more spectacular? Which do you think has a more interesting history? If you've been to both, which impressed you more? If not, which would you rather spend a day in?
I have only been to the Forbidden City (not to the Summer Palace or Angkor Wat). I do agree that in general some of the features in Chinese temples seem to be repetitive. In Beijing I also enjoyed visiting the Temple of the Heaven which had some features that were quite different from the Forbidden City and other Chinese temples that I visited in other locations in China.
Most old cities are repetitive. Paris is full of building of exactly the same style and height. I used to like visiting castles and palaces in Europe, after a while I got tired of them because they all look more or less the same (unless you are an expert who can really tell the minute differences).
Well yes, even old architecture can start getting well, old, haha. In some ways Beijing's hutongs are as or more interesting than the Forbidden City, just seeing the humble abodes where people lived instead of always grand monuments where kings and emperors loved.
Well yes, even old architecture can start getting well, old, haha. In some ways Beijing's hutongs are as or more interesting than the Forbidden City, just seeing the humble abodes where people lived instead of always grand monuments where kings and emperors loved.
In Shanghai one can still visit some "lelong" areas where people still live in these humble abodes.
I've been to both, but Angkor Wat is more memorable.
Forbidden City, I spent about a half a day, and that was enough.
Angkor Wat you buy a package of 1 day, 3 days, or can't remember 5 or 7 days? I quickly bought the 3 days, and spent nearly from sunrise to sunset for 2 straight days.....which did get tiring, but was great experiencing those sunsets/sunrises. By the third day, I'd had enough, and just did a sunset.
But, there is no way I could have spent that much time at the Forbidden City.
Angkor Wat by far. Went to both. In Angkor Wat we were running through ruined temples all day, going anywhere our motorcycle rickshaw driver could take us. The place is HUGE with all kinds of temples. It's also obscenely hot, muggy, and cheap. When we were there it was pretty much unregulated (save for the entry fee) so you were totally free to go anywhere and do whatever. Siem Reap is a decent town too, though certainly no Beijing. For a real thrill, visit the meat market.
If you want to see all of Angkor Wat, and you don't get Templed out easily, you might get to 80% of it in 3 days (at a dead run dawn-to-dusk and with a fast motorick driver). Pack in food, or plan on fried rice and cheap coconuts.
The Forbidden city has a Starbucks. 'nuff said.
Well, if you want to know more; it's worth about a half-day, it's sterile (except for the choking all-obscuring fog), empty, and as huge a tourist trap as all the rest of the sights of Beijing. If you're going to China, and you can only visit one city, you SHOULD go to Beijing because it has EVERYTHING, but it's not a nice place.
Beijing > All of Cambodia in terms of interesting things to see all packed into one place.
Cambodia > China in terms of friendliness and clean air.
Angkor Wat > Forbidden City in pretty much every way.
Angkor Wat beautiful temple, is a building that is similar to the temple "Prambanan" in Java .
I will pay a visit to the "The Forbidden City" at a later time. some of my friends have been visit there ^ ^
They're both over-rated but Angkor Wat is more photogenic.
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at a later time. some of my friends have been visit there ^ ^