Forbidden City

The Forbidden City ( Chinese : GùGōng or Gugong museum, also known as the Palace Museum ) is the imperial palace of the Chinese Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty.

Forbidden City Name

The common English name “Forbidden City”, a translation of the Chinese name Zijin Cheng (Chinese pinyin： Zǐjinchéng literally “Purple Forbidden City”). Another name in English of the same origin is “Forbidden City”.

The name “Zijin Cheng” is a name with significance on many levels. Zi, or “Purple”, refers to the North Star, which had been mentioned in ancient China Ziwei Star, and traditional Chinese astrology, the house of the Heavenly Emperor. The surrounding celestial region, housing Ziwei (Chinese: pinyin： Zǐwēiyuán) has been the realm of the Celestial Emperor and his family. The Forbidden City, when it became the residence of Emperor Land, its terrestrial counterpart. Jin, or “forbidden,” said that person enter or leave the palace was without the authorization of the Emperor.

Today the site is commonly known in Chinese as Gugong, which means “the former Palace.

The museum, founded in these buildings, known as the “Palace Museum” (Chinese: pinyin Gugong Bówùyùan).

About the Forbidden City

In downtown Beijing, Chinese people are called the Palace Museum or Gugong. For nearly five centuries, has long served as the seat of the emperor and his family and the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.In 1406 to 1420 built complex of 980 surviving buildings with 8707 rooms and covers 720,000 m2 (7,800,000 sq. feet). The palace is an example of traditional Chinese beautifully, and the cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere affected. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage site in 1987 and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of canned ancient wooden structures in the world.

Since 1925, the Forbidden City is under the care of the Palace Museum, whose extensive collection of art and artifacts have been on the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing. Part of the collection of the old museum is now at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. - top -

Virtual Forbidden City

Forbidden City History

Forbidden City Sightseeing

Forbidden City Travel Tips

Forbidden City Attractions:

1. Meridian Gate
2. Hall of Literary Glory and Hall of Martial Valor
3. Gate of Supreme Harmony
4. Hall of Supreme Harmony
5. Hall of Central Harmony
6. Hall of Preserved Harmony
7. Gate of Heavenly Purity
8. Palace of Heavenly Purity
9. Hall of Celestial & Terrestrial Union
10. Palace of Earthly Tranquility
11. Hall of Mental Cultivation
12. Six Western Palaces
13. Hall for Ancestry Worship
14. Six Eastern Palaces
15. Palace of Tranquil Longevity
16. Treasure Gallery
17. Qianlong Garden
18. Imperial Garden
19. Forbidden City Wall
20. Forbidden City Moat and Corner Towers

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Virtual Forbidden City

Through time and space，Virtual Forbidden City will guide you to enter into the mysterious Forbidden City Palace and to a Forbidden City tour. Come on, Let’s go…

Forbidden City History

The history of the Forbidden City covers six centuries. In the heart of Beijing, China, the Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Built 1406 to 1420, the Forbidden City is experienced many changes. Having as the imperial palace for nearly five hundred years, the Forbidden City is now a palace museum – the Palace Museum – in 1925. In 1987 he was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. - top -

The site is located at the Forbidden City was the imperial city during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the creation of the Ming Dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor moved the capital Beijing in the north to Nanjing in the south, and ordered that the palace be burnt yuan. When his son was Yongle Emperor Zhu Di, he moved the capital to Beijing, and construction began in 1406, what would the Forbidden City.

The construction lasted 15 years, and requires more than one million workers. Materials used are made of precious wood logs, while Zhennan Phoebe (Chinese Pinyin nanmu) found in the jungles of southwestern China, and large blocks of marble from quarries near Beijing. The main room floors were paved with “gold bricks” (Chinese: Pinyin jīnzhuān), specially baked paving stones from Suzhou.

From 1420 to 1644, was the Forbidden City, the seat of the Ming Dynasty. In April 1644 he became the rebel Li Zicheng, who describes himself as Emperor Shun Dynasty.He quickly fled before the combined armies of former Ming general Wu Sangui and Manchu forces, setting resulted recognized before the fire, parts of the Forbidden City the process. In October, the Manchus had achieved domination in northern China, and a ceremony was held in the Forbidden City in order to emphasize the young Emperor Shunzhi as ruler of all China under the Qing Qing rulers Dynasty.The announce last names of the main building to “harmony” rather than “Supremacy”, made the plates bilingual (Chinese and Manchu), and contains elements of shamanism in the palace. TOP

In 1860, during the Second Opium War, the Anglo-French forces took control of the Forbidden City and occupied it until the end of 1900 war.In Empress Dowager Cixi fled from the Forbidden City during the Boxer Rebellion, so that by the force of the Treaty powers are until next year occupied.

Once the residence of 24 emperors, fourteen of the Ming dynasty and ten from the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City was stopped, the political center of China in 1912 with the abdication of Pu Yi, last emperor of China. Under a new agreement with the Government of the Republic of China, Pu Yi was on the farm, while the outer court was dedicated to public use until he was expelled following a coup in 1924. The Palace Museum was then established in the Forbidden City. In 1933 the Japanese invasion of China forced the evacuation of the national treasures in the Forbidden City.Part, the collection was back at the end of World War II, but the other part was evacuated to Taiwan in 1947 under the command of Chiang Kai – shek, whose Kuomintang lost the Chinese civil war. This collection of relatively small but high quality has been in storage until 1965, when he returned to the public, as the core of the National Palace Museum in Taipei held.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 caused some damage to the Forbidden City, while the country was drawn into revolutionary zeal.During the Cultural Revolution, but further destruction was prevented when the Prime Minister Zhou Enlai sent an army battalion, the city to protect.

The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987 as the Imperial Palace “of the Ming and Qing dynasties, because of its important role in the development of architecture and culture of China. It is currently used by the Palace Museum, which leads repair, a project of sixteen years of restoration and clean up all the buildings of the Forbidden City in their managed-1912 before the state. - top -

In recent years, the presence of commercial enterprises in the Forbidden City has been controversial. A Starbucks that opened in 2000, objections, and finally ended the 13 July 2007. The Chinese media also took note of a few souvenir shops that refused to allow Chinese citizens to price gouge to foreign customers in 2006.

Forbidden City Travel Tips

Forbidden City is a must when traveling to Beijing. To make your journey much comfortable Forbidden City, we found a few helpful tips to follow for you. TOP

Best Time to Visit the Forbidden City

Forbidden City is the best season from late March to early June and from late August to late November. During these periods, select one days and not weeks and holidays to avoid the crowds.

Recommended Forbidden City Tour lines

West Line: Meridian Gate (Wumen) – Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) – Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) – Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian) – Hall of Harmony doses (Baohedian) – Gateway to the purity Celeste (Qianqingmen) — Six Western Palaces – Cining Palace – Hall of Mental cultivation (Yangxindian) – Zhai Shufang TOP

Middle Line: Wumen (Meridian Gate) – Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) – Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) – Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian) – Hall of Harmony doses (Baohedian) – Gateway to the purity Celeste (Qianqingmen) — Hall heavenly and earthly of the European Union (Jiaotaidian) – Künning Palace – Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan) – Shenwu Gate

East Line: Wumen (Meridian Gate) – Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) – Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) – Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian) – Hall of Harmony doses (Baohedian) – Gateway to the purity Celeste (Qianqingmen) — Six Eastern Palaces (Dongliugong) – Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshougong) – Now Zhenfei

Forbidden City Exhibitions

Forbidden City Museum has called permanent exhibitions in various halls and palaces a few. The following is a list of some shows that may spark your interest. Visit them and you can learn more about the cultural context in the great Forbidden City. - top -

Valuable cultural relics treasures exhibition Huangji Hall Leshou Hall and Yangxing Palace Yihe Xuan
Clocks Collections Exhibition Hall in Fengxian
Qing Palace Opera exhibition in the Palace Changyin
Cixi to Business Expo at Xianfu Palace
Puyi Life exhibition in Lijing Xuan
Qing concubines Life exhibition at the Palace Yongshou
Qing Weapon Equipment Exhibition in Hongyi Garret
Wanshou celebrations at Exhibition Palace Qianqing
Imperial Palace Grand Wedding Expo in Qianqing TOP

Forbidden City Attractions:

Forbidden City – Meridian Gate

The Meridian Gate (Chinese, pinyin Wǔmén;) is the southernmost (and

largest) gate of the Forbidden City. It has five arches. The three central arches are matched, the two flanking arches are still the exception of the three central arches. The arc center was once reserved for the emperor, the exceptions were the Empress, it might be, once their wedding day to give, and the three best students of three reviews of public service, tests allowed by the central arch. All other officers and agents had to use the four lateral arches. -top -

Hall of Literary Glory and Hall of Martial Valor

Entering the southern entrance to the Forbidden City – Meridian Gate, you will see the inside deck of the Golden River. In the east of the bridge is the gateway to the single resulting in Harmony Hall of Literary Glory. In the west of the bridge is the gateway to the prosperous harmony leading to the Hall of Martial Valor. Both halls are balanced by an east-west, now separated, are used as a gallery of ceramics and Forbidden City photo gallery.

Forbidden City -  Gate of Supreme Harmony

Behind Wumen The Meridian Gate, one can see five bridges with a courtyard. Make the heart of the north shore of the court is Taihemen, The Gate of Supreme Harmony. - top -

The Gate of Supreme Harmony (Simplified Chinese 门 太和; Traditional Chinese: 门 太和; pinyin: Taihemen; Manchu: Amba duka hūwaliyambure), is the second large gate on the south side of the Forbidden City. - top -

Forbidden City – Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Supreme Harmony (Chinese 殿 太和; pinyin: Tai He Dian; Manchu: Amba Deyen hūwaliyambure) is the largest hall in the Forbidden City. It is located on the central axis, behind the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Built on three levels: marble base surrounded by incense burners made of bronze, is the Hall of Supreme Harmony is one of the largest wooden buildings in China. It was where the Ming and Qing emperors their enthronement and wedding ceremonies take place.
In collaboration with the Hall of Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony, the three rooms in the heart of the courtyard of the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City Hall of Supreme Harmony is about 30 feet above the level of the place around. It is the ceremonial center of imperial power, and the largest surviving wooden structure in China. It is nine bays wide and five bays deep, the numbers nine and five being symbolically connected to the majesty of the emperor. The six pillars that are closest to the imperial throne covered with gold, and the whole area is decorated with a dragon. The Imperial Dragon Throne, and in particular has five dragon wrapped around the back and laid on the hands. The screen behind the properties of the sets of nine dragons, as an expression of “Nine to Five” symbolic.
Set in the ceiling directly above the throne of the residential complex is decorated with a coiled dragon, from the mouth of issuing a chandelier-like set of metal balls. Called the “Xuanyuan Mirror” coming back to this article Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor, the legendary first emperor of China. In the Ming dynasty, gave the emperor his court here to discuss state affairs. During the Qing Dynasty, emperors held court much more frequently. Therefore, the situation has changed in the courtyard and the Hall of Supreme Harmony was used for ceremonial purposes such as coronations, royal weddings and investiture.
The hall was originally built by the Ming Dynasty in 1406 and seven times was destroyed by fire during the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in the last 1695 to 1697. - top -

Forbidden City – Hall of Central Harmony

Forbidden City Hall of Central Harmony between the Hall of Supreme Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony.  Hall of Central Harmony served as a resting place for the emperor before the presentation of major events in the Taihe Hall. Kaiser would rehearse their speeches and presentations here before their departure to the Temple of Heaven for sacrificial rites.

Forbidden City Hall of Central Harmony was the first time in 1420 during the Ming dynasty, however, the original auditorium was destroyed by fire and to see a visitor today was rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty.The Hall takes its name of the essence of Confucianism built after renovation. The exterior of the hall takes the shape of a square. In the room on either side of the golden throne, two unicorns symbolized the emperor’s talent and wisdom.  - top -

Go visit : Hall of Central Harmony

Forbidden City -  Hall of Preserved Harmony

Hall of Preserved Harmony ( Baohedian ), preserved Harmony is located at the north end of the marble terrace on three levels, a similar style but a bit smaller than the Hall of Supreme Harmony and larger than the Hall of Harmony . It was built in 1420, rebuilt in 1625 and renovated in 1765. Under the Ming Dynasty, the emperor usually change clothes before giving ceremonies here Empress or Crown Prince. In the Qing dynasty imperial banquets should normally be given here. To celebrate the marriage of Princess, Kaiser invite officials, husband and father, and their relatives who served the imperial government to a banquet. Each year, on the eve of New Year’s Eve would banquets in honor of officials and Marquis Drive, Mongolian princes and civil and military.
In 1789, the middle of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong Palace further test, the highest and final stage of the national system of imperial examinations, the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the lobby. Kaiser read the newspapers of the ten candidates in order to honor them.

On rainy days, visitors have the opportunity to stage spectacular than a thousand dragons to see drainage. There are 1412 stone dragon head on the marble columns of the three-level terrace to sit on the three main halls. Chinese craftsmen combined drainage system of architectural art intelligent. Once you have the opportunity, the Forbidden City, please note the holes in the mouth of the dragon. However, those who are no holes in the corners                               - top -

Forbidden City – Gate of Heavenly Purity

The Gate of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing men) separates the palace in the yard outside and inside. Behind the door is the residential area of the palace. Opposite the door is a pair of golden lions, a little smaller than those guarding the gate of Supreme Harmony. Powerful lions, in the opinion of the Chinese people are great door-guarders demons that frighten them. Besides lions, ten huge vats of gold are provided. These tanks are not only gold trim, but also hold water in case of fire. These tanks weigh more than 2,000 kilograms (4,409 pounds) and can contain more than 2,000 kilograms (4,409 pounds) of water.                             - top -
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), began Emperor Kangxi, the second successor to hold court at that door instead of the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Ministers to gather in front of the door at dawn, the report on the state of affairs of their emperor, and await the decision of the emperor. The study of the upper, east, has been studied in the case of the princes of the Qing Dynasty. In the west, the houses of the offices of the General Command Center were (Junji Chu), originally a military installation. Later, the region saw the adoption of national regulations.

Forbidden City – Palace of Heavenly Purity

The Palace of Heavenly Purity, or Qianqing Palace (Chinese: 乾清宫 ; pinyin: Qianqing Gong) is a palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. It is the largest of the three rooms of the courtyard (the other two being the Union Hall and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility), located at the north end of the Forbidden City. During the Qing Dynasty, the palace has often served as the courtroom of the emperor, where he held a council with the Grand Council.              - top -

The Palace of Heavenly Purity is a double-eaved building and is located on a platform of white marble on a plane. It is the Gate of Heavenly Purity, connected in the south by a raised walkway. Under the Ming Dynasty, it was the residence of the Emperor. The large room was divided into nine rooms on two levels, with 27 beds. For additional security on the night of the Emperor chooses randomly from one of these beds. This lasted until the early Qing Dynasty. However, when Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, he would not live in the palace occupied by his father in the sixties. He lives and future emperor kept in the Small Hall of the intellectual culture in the West. The Palace of Heavenly Purity then became a court of the Emperor, where he held court, received the ministers and ambassadors, and held banquets. Is set in the center of the palace, developed on a platform, a throne, a desk, on which the emperor wrote notes and signed documents during government meetings. A housing is mounted on the roof, with a coiled cable dragon.
Above the throne hangs a plaque with a right-to-left script 正大光明 “(Zheng Da Guang Ming), written by Emperor Shunzhi. This tablet was revealed in several ways. It is often used as a Chinese idiom that means “To decent, honest and generous, ” or used “have no secrets or making an indecent act.”

Emperor Yongzheng Emperor of the designated successor in secret, with a copy of hiding behind the shelf, and other worn at all times by the Emperor.         - top -

Forbidden City – Hall of Celestial & Terrestrial Union

The Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (JiaoTaiDian), was first built in 1420 and rebuilt in 1655 and 1798. One meaning of the name is the wish that the Kaiser (heavenly) and the Empress (terrestrial) have a good marriage. This hall is like the Hall of perfect harmony (ZhongHeDian) in the form and the smaller twin. It is the smallest of the three major palaces in the yard.

Normally empresses formal birthday greetings would get here. Empresses would also inspect preparations before he presided over commemorations of the Silkworm God and practice sericulture. Shunzhi Emperor’s eunuchs, which was made here, are banned because of its own in governing.
If an hour-glass – - and is on the left, a carillon see Clock on the right side of the throne, the visitors an ancient Chinese water pot Clock. These two counters were a reference to the Drum Tower and Bell Tower.
The large clock tower on the left side of the palace built in 1798 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and works in a miraculous way, the clock yet. Water Clock on the right was built in 1745. It is one of the most important inventions of China and is about 2,500 years ago. First, the mechanical clock in China after the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) it was found that the use was abandoned in the water meter.  - top -

Forbidden City – Palace of Earthly Tranquility

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility ( Chinese name for The Palace of Earthly Tranquility : 坤宁宫; pinyin: Kun Ning Gong) is the northernmost of the three main rooms in the courtyard of the Forbidden City, the other two classrooms Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Hall of the Union.     - top -
The Palace of Earthly Tranquility is a double-eaved building, 9 beams wide and 3 beams deep. Under the Ming Dynasty, it was the residence of the Empress. Under the Qing Dynasty, a large part of the forbidden palace have been converted to the cult by shamanic new Manchu rulers. Thus, the front of the Earthly Tranquility hall as shrines, icons, prayer rugs and a large kitchen where the sacrificial meat was prepared. From the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, the Empress left the Palace of Earthly Tranquility after the initiative of the Emperor on the Palace of Heavenly Purity. However, two halls in the Palace land were retained for use in the wedding night of the Emperor. The wedding ceremony would take place in the main hall of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, and then the Emperor and Empress retired to one of these halls      - top -

Forbidden City – Hall of Mental Cultivation

During the Qing Dynasty Hall Of Mental Cultivation(yang Xin Dian) was probably the most important building, except for the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Since the time of the third emperor Yongzhen all Qing emperors: 8 in total have stayed. The emperor also led the state affairs and held private hearings into the Hall Of Mental Cultivation.     - top -
The first emperor of the Qing Dynasty-Shunzhi died. The Hall Of Mental Cultivation was later converted to the imperial workshop, making all the necessities for use Royal during the reign of Kangxi.
Hall Of Mental Cultivation served as sleeping place of the emperor at the time of Emperor Yongzheng.
The hall of the West House at the west end of the study was the emperor was used by emperors to read the presentations and their ministers to conduct private hearings with senior officials.      - top -
At the end of the complex of five rooms. The largest room environment was for the emperor and the four surrounding rooms were used by the empresses and concubines who were ready to be summoned to the emperor.
During the reign of Emperor Tongzhi and Guangxu, the chamber is of Yang Xin Dian acquired special political significance. It is here that the Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci’an gave audiences behind the screen and started their intervention in domestic affairs. This is the famous “power behind the throne” or “Holding court behind the curtain” of Chinese history.

Forbidden City – Six Western Palaces

Six West Palace (Xiliu Gong) and the East Palace Six (Dongliu Gong) lie symmetrically on either side of the three main rooms in the Forbidden City courtyard. These twelve rooms were the palace residence of the emperor’s many wives, that polygamy was lawful at the time of feudal China. Each palace has a courtyard that has a separate entrance, bathroom and rear rooms of the wizard.       - top -
Six West Palace, as its name implies, are located in the west of the Forbidden City courtyard. With the Hall of mental culture, the South, it contains six palaces Palace of Eternal Longevity (Yongshou Gong), the palace of Queen Consort (Yikun Gong), the Palace to collect Elegance (Chuxiu Gong), Tai Chi Dian (Hall of Supreme Pole), the Palace of Eternal Spring (Changchun Gong) and the Palace of Universal Happiness (Gong Xianfu).
Among the palaces, the Palace of Eternal Spring is famous for its fresco called Dream of Red Mansions. Dream of Red Mansions, a novel most noted Chinese, has become very popular in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The Empress Dowager Cixi liked reading very much, which led to this fantastic mural that is painted. Palace to collect Elegance, once housing Cixi, is very elegant. Wanrong, the last empress of the Qing Dynasty, lived in this place too. A buffet, boat ivory and other rare crafts are displayed.      - top -

Forbidden City -  Hall for Ancestry Worship

The hall for ancestor worship (Fengxian Dian) in the Forbidden City is located southeast of the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the six eastern palaces to its north. Built in 1656 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was the hall where memorials of emperors enshrined their ancestors. The front and rear hall room are connected by a corridor, so that a whole structure. Large-area victims were kept in the front hall at the Spring Festival, the winter solstice and the reigning emperor’s birthday. The emperor made their deep courtesies to deceased ancestors on the back hall on the ancestors birthdays and death days, the Lantern Festival (Lunar January 15), the day of the grave sweeping (Solar April 4 and 5) and Mid-Autumn Day.      - top -
Now the hall is devoted to an exhibition hall and watch converted. Some were produced by the imperial workshop or made in Guangzhou (Guangdong Province) and Suzhou (Jiangsu Province), others were imported from England, France, Germany, Switzerland, America and Japan, or sent as gifts to the emperor. They are of different shapes and styles and inspire visitors with their perfect performance. Although they have two thousand years ago they were still good on that day. In addition, a video system in the hall shows how these exquisite watches.      - top -

Six Eastern Palaces

As the counterpart of the Six Western Palaces – Forbidden City – Six eastern palaces (Dongliugong), was also the residence of the emperor’s wives. It consists Jingrengong (Palace of Great Mercy), Chengqiangong (Palace of Celestial Favour), Lama Temple (Palace of Eternal Harmony), Jingyanggong (Palace of Great Brilliance), Zhongcuigong (Palace of Purity) and Yanxigong (Palace of Lasting Happiness).
The castle is located on the east side of the courtyard. Most of the palaces were in the 17 Century restored. These palaces were also the living rooms of the imperial concubines. Now most have them in exhibition halls, where Chinese treasures to be collected earlier from the imperial family, the public, have been made.     - top -
Jingrengong (Palace of Great Mercy) now holds exhibition of more than 500 pieces of bronze wares of ancient China with two other halls, and Zhaigong Chengsudian. Visitors see the magnificent bronze wares displayed there.
In Chengqiangong (Palace of Celestial Favour) and Lama Temple (Palace of Eternal Harmony), now the ceramic and porcelain exhibition hall, visitors will be privileged, ceramics and porcelain from the Neolithic to the Qing Dynasty estimate dated.      - top -
Jingyanggong (Palace of Great Brilliance) was grown in an exhibition hall display lacquer ware, jade articles, stoneware, glassware and metal goods, etc. from the Ming and Qing dynasty. It is now Ming and Qing Crafts Exhibition Hall.
Zhongcuigong (Palace of Purity) was the palace where the prince lived during the Ming Dynasty.      - top -

Forbidden City – Palace of Tranquil Longevity

Palace of Tranquil Longevity is complex for the emperors who abdicated from the throne was built. It consists of Ningshou Gong (Palace of Tranquil Longevity) (Maintain Hall of Harmony), Yangxing Dian (Hall of Temper cultivation), Leshou Tang (Hall of Joyful Longevity) and Yihe Xuan. This group of buildings is a microcosm of the Forbidden City, the Palace of Peaceful Longevity is equivalent to the atrium and the three other halls include the courtyard.      - top -

The Palace of Peaceful Longevity was built in 1689 and was reconstructed during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. Huangji Men (Gate of Imperial Supremacy) is the south gate, decorated with three arches with colored glaze. Huangji Dian (Hall of Imperial Harmony), similar to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall served as the audience. The Hall of Peaceful Longevity was where the Emperor worships God abdicant. Now the Hall of Imperial Harmony in a treasure gallery has changed.    - top -

Forbidden City – Treasure Gallery

The Forbidden City treasure gallery is located on the north-south axis of the Palace of Longevity In a quiet environment in the north-east of the Palace Museum. Get through the gate of spiritual cultivation (Yangxingmen), north of the Palace of Peaceful Longevity (Ningshougong), it is easy to find the Treasure Gallery, which consists of three halls: the Hall of spiritual cultivation (Yangxingdian), the Hall of Joyful Longevity (Leshoutang), the living quarters for the Regent, the wives and concubines were well-fed and the Belvedere of Harmony (Yihexuan). These three halls are home now gold, silver, pearls, jade, cutlery, tea sets, royal robe, crown of the Phoenix daily needs as well as furniture of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) imperial family. In the north of the gallery is the jing chamber.  - top -

Qianlong Garden & Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds

Forbidden City – Qianlong Garden is an artificial rock garden in front of the view. If you forward a long walk along the meandering gravel path, you will probably feel like heading for quiet seclusion. It is a square pavilion of trees behind the artificial rock garden surrounded. It is named Lodge of Ancient Tree. To the west is the Lodge of Ancient Tree. To the west is the elegant house of ceremonial purification. On the stone stele in the Pavijion, theres the inscription records of the Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion by Dong Qichang of Emperor Qianlong. On the floor there is a meandering water channel. In ancient China, people in all the disasters and misfortune in the last year believed to leave, could you take a bath in the river into the third day of the third month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Wang Xizhi, a great calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) wrote the famous prologue to the collection of Orchid Pavilion, when he drink with friends in the river while taking bath. From then on, was a fashion ceremonial cleansing in the circle of writers.       - top -

Forbidden City – Changying  -  Pavilion of the pleasant sounds was in the Royal Forbidden City Theatre stage, and her full name is the Grand Theatre stage Changying (Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds) (Pavilion of the pleasant sounds) in Ningshougong (Palace of Tranquil Longevity) of the Forbidden City. It is located on the east side of the Yangxindian (Hall of Mental cultivation). In 1772 it was found, and ended in 1776. In 1802 and 1891 it was converted for two times. Changying (Pavilion of the pleasant sounds) was the largest theater stage in the Forbidden City. As famous Grand Theatre stage with the Deheyuan in Summer Palace, built in accordance with Changying (Pavilion of the pleasant sounds), and the Grand Theatre stage in Qingyin Summer Resort of Chengde.        - top -

In ancient China, is going great theater entertainment. During the period beginning the variety of festivals such as Spring Festival, Spring Lantern Festival, Double Seven Day, Dragon Boat Day, the Middle-Autumn Festival, Double-Nine Day begins winter, emperor’s enthronement and the birthday ceremony of Emperor and Empress and the royal members were always appreciated opera show here. There are many places for opera performances in Forbidden City: The Theater stage between Taijidian (Hall of Supreme Principle) and Changchungong (Palace of Eternal Spring), Shufangzhai theater stage and so on, while the large Changying (Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds) is specifically designed to opera performance on some great occasions used. Majority of the membership of Immortal performances playing demonstrate the peace and prosperity of society. With respect to the reference recording, during the reign of Empress Cixi, she took the opera performance on some festive days with Emperor, Empress, Prince and concubines and officials appreciate. In 1884, the fiftieth birthday of the Empress Cixi, Empress Cixi to the needs of the appreciation of opera production, consumption for costume and prop sale is very large.

Forbidden City – Imperial Garden

Through the gate of terrestrial Tranquility (KunNingMen) is the Imperial Garden (YuHuaYuan) – the last part of the Forbidden City on the central north-south axis when in a northerly direction, before the north gate.

The garden was built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty. It covers an area of 12,000 square meters and was the garden of the imperial family. It was the typical imperial garden in China.      - top -

This garden has been used exclusively by the imperial family to drink tea, play chess, meditate and relax in the rule. In the garden there are about 20 structures in various styles.

It’s interesting how the man-made structures to maintain harmony with trees, rock gardens, flower beds and bronze incense burners in this relatively small space.    - top -

Forbidden City Wall

The Forbidden City is a 7.9 meters high city wall and a six feet deep, surrounded by 52-meter wide moat. The Forbidden City walls are 8.62 meters wide at the base, tapering to 6.66 meters at the top. These walls were used as walls and retaining walls for the palace. They were constructed with a rammed earth core, and surfaced with three layers of specially baked bricks on both sides, the interstices filled with mortar.     - top -

Forbidden City Moat and Corner Towers

Forbidden City Moat
Forbidden City Moat founded in 1420, the eighteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle (1403-1424) of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the trench 3800 m long and 52 m wide.     - top -

Forbidden City Corner towers
On the four corner towers coigne by high walls of the Forbidden City was founded in 1420, rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). As part of the Forbidden City, she served as the defensive system as well as the high walls, towers and the gate of the ditch.     - top -