...PAst & NOw ...
The Forbidden City ( The Palace Museum), Beijing
Beijing's most famous tourist attraction is the Forbidden City - where China's emperors held court for 500 years from the 15th century until 1911.
Since the Chinese believed that the emperor was the Son of Heaven, they believe that the Forbidden City was literally at the center of the Universe .
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, the immense complex - really a city within a city consisting of almost 1,000 buildings and over 8,000 chambers- sees thousands of foreign and domestic tourists daily.
The Forbidden City is divided into 2 different parts : the southern section ( or Outer Court) and the northern section ( or Inner court).
The Outer Court
The Outer Court is the southern section of the Forbidden City. This section is where the Emperor exercised his power over the nation by attending ceremonies and conducting state affairsRreserving . The Outer Court is composed of 3 main buildings :
- The Hall of Supreme Harmony ( 太和殿 Tai He Dian )
- The Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿 Zhong He Dian )
- The Hall of Preserving Harmony ( 保和殿 Bao He Dian )
A couple of side gardens doted with interesting halls are also there for the pleasure of visitors.
Out of the 3 buidings, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the most important and largest one where stands what visitors are most enthusiast into seeing: The Emperor Dragon Throne ( 龙椅 Long Yi ).
The Hall of Central Harmony located behind is the usual resting and rehearsing place of emperors prior to presiding over grand events .
Events were indeed usually held in that hall. Finally, the Hall of the Preserving Harmony was the building used for holding banquets and imperial examination. Standing straight out of that building, the Gate of Heavenly Peace ( 乾清门Qian Qing Men) is welcoming visitors as it is the main gateway to the Inner Court of the Forbidden City.
The Hall of Central Harmony located behind is the usual resting and rehearsing place of emperors prior to presiding over grand events .
Events were indeed usually held in that hall. Finally, the Hall of the Preserving Harmony was the building used for holding banquets and imperial examination. Standing straight out of that building, the Gate of Heavenly Peace ( 乾清门Qian Qing Men) is welcoming visitors as it is the main gateway to the Inner Court of the Forbidden City.
The Inner Court
The Inner Court is the northern section of the Forbidden City. This Court was where the Emperor and his Royal Family and concubines lived, his Majesty handled everyday affairs and the country's future. That section is composed of 3 main structures :
- The Palace of Heavenly Purity ( 乾清宫 Qian Qing Gong ）
- The Palace of Union and Peace ( 交泰殿 Jiao Tai Dian ）
- The Palce of Terrestrial Tranquility ( 坤宁宫 Kun Ning Gong )
Beside that, 12 more palace stand : 6 on the eastern side, 6 on the western side. These were the residences of emperors concubines converted today into exhibition halls . The Palace of Heavenly Purity is thefirst structure encountered.
As emperors' bedchambers, the palace is mainly filled with common but luxurious house cupboards and relics of the royal family. The Palace of Union and Peace is where all the imperial seals were stored. Finally, the Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility is the ancient emperor's wedding room.
Visitors continuing the visit a little bit further north will discover the Imperial Garden, offering a great and relaxing aesthetic twist after the visit of old rocks .
By finishing the visit in the Inner Court, visitors can conveniently exit the site of the Forbidden City by the Gate of Divine Might ( 神武门 Shen Wu Men ), located straight behind the Imperial Garden.
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Gate of Heavenly Purity |
The Nine Dragons Wall
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The Hall of Mental Cultivation Imperial Garden |
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