I am currently in China and having a wonderful time exploring this great country and seeing all of its history and heritage.  I was able to go to the Forbidden City yesterday, which is where all the emperors of China lived, and spent the day walking around the HUGE grounds as well as visit the Imperial Palace Museum.  We found many awesome historical artifacts including preserved fabrics (that I LOVE!) and a very interesting reproduction of the traditional Bridal Palanquin, a carrier used to carry the future empress and bride into the marriage ceremony.

I love how each culture had its own way of presenting brides and carrying forth marriage rituals.  This one in particular is special because it is part of my grandparents’ heritage and we always hear about brides being carried in to meet their future husband with a red cloth over their face so that they would be a surprise to their future husbands.  It was awesome to see a reproduction of such a tradition in person.

Take a look at some of the beautifully preserved fabrics of China Royalty!