|
|
|
| Attraction Location : Beijing |
| Attraction Affiliated with the City :Beijing |
| Attraction Rate : AAAAA |
| Business Time : |
Introduction
Why the Forbidden City in Beijing is special
For nearly 500 years (1420-1911), twenty four emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled China from inside the Forbidden City. It has lavishly decorated ceremonial halls and royal palaces that were built to impress the eye. The emperors lived within the massive walls and seldom ventured outside. Palace intrigue and internal political power struggles were common.
Forbidden City tips & insights
(1) The Forbidden City gained its ominous sounding sobriquet because entry was once strictly prohibited without royal authorization. A visit without that sanction would automatically cost your life.
(2) The compound goes by several names: "Public Museum" (new official name), "Imperial City" (old official name), and "Forbidden City" (which most travelers call it).
(3) The Forbidden City is well preserved for its age. For years, the government has been making a major effort in renovating the palace, bringing it back to its former architectural grandeur.
(4) The Forbidden City is so expansive and complex that I recommend you reserve a minimum of a half day on your first visit just to become acquainted with it. Then return to absorb the details.
(5) The Forbidden City measures 960 meters (3200 feet) by 750 meters (2500 feet) in size. That's equivalent to over 20 football fields.
(6) The palace is surrounded by a thick, 10 meter (33 foot) high defensive wall that is in turn surrounded by a moat as wide as a river.
(7) The rooms in the Forbidden City once numbered 9,999 (nine is a lucky digit).
(8) The largest and most famous structure is the Hall of Supreme Harmony (see photo), where imperial ceremonies were held.
(9) Some six thousand people lived in the Forbidden City. This included the emperor and his royal family, and his concubines, servants and eunuchs (who were prolific instigators of royal intrigue).
(10) The final emperor resident was Puyi, the young male depicted in Bertolucci's 1987 epic, "The Last Emperor." Puyi was permanently evicted in 1924. |
|
