Maps and Contemplation

The map function, a direct access from the menu to the right, is as detailed as you would expect from a museum. Zooming out to show the whole city, or in to show an individual room, it is filled with a wealth of information on every building, walkway, bridge, and stream inside the forbidden city. Even individual statues and plants in some cases. Everything is indexed by colour, and you can choose what types of information to display, as well as a very detailed search.

Additionally, it shows both your current position, and where you have been (as represented by a black line) within the city. There are pockets of activity with bots in large numbers acting out scenes from daily life, and there are historical activities to take part in, which reflect aspects of what life was like within its walls.

Virtual Forbidden City is not designed as a therapeutic world, yet it continually plays soft, slow oriental music as you wander tranquil scenes, unmarred by signs of activity. It almost seems to have been deliberately designed to quieten the mind, and open to contemplation. It thus becomes a retreat from a hectic lifestyle.


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Images: China's Palace Museum,
Text: Virtual Worldlets Network, all rights reserved.