Beijing Forbidden City of Chinese Emperors
China Top Tourist Attraction, Peking Imperial Palace and Museum
Apr 13, 2009
Set on a symbolic north-south axis, Beijing Forbidden City was the palatial residence of 24 Chinese emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for almost 500 years. Begun in 1406, Peking imperial palace took 15 years and a million workers to complete, using precious wood from southern China, marble from the Beijing area and golden bricks from Suzhou.
As would befit a Chinese emperor, son of heaven, it was lavishly furnished, comprised 980 palaces and other buildings and was forbidden to commoners. The imperial palace complex was enclosed within the larger walled area of the Imperial City and stretched for 961 metres.
China Top Tourist Attraction, Beijing Forbidden City, Outer Court
Beyond the Meridian Gate and the Golden Stream spanned by five marble bridges, the Outer Court claims the most magnificent buildings, once used for ceremonies and state affairs. Three Halls sit on a marble terrace, most important the Hall of Supreme Harmony with its golden throne and coiled dragon on the ceiling. It was the scene of coronations and weddings and is fronted by symbolic dragons with an auspicious pearl.
The Hall of Central Harmony was the place where the Chinese emperor prepared himself for important events while the Hall of Preserving Harmony was for imperial exams and banquets. Behind this hall is a 16 metre long carving from a single piece of marble, the largest of its kind in China, representing clouds and dragons, symbols of divine power.
Peking Imperial Palace, Inner Court, Residence of Chinese Emperors
In the smaller buildings of the Inner Court, daily business was conducted and Chinese emperors and their family set up residence. The emperor rested in the Palace of Heavenly Peace while the empress had her home in the Hall of Terrestrial Tranquillity and celebrated her birthday and New Year in the Palace of Union Peace. This was also the storing place for the twenty-five imperial seals.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation was for private audiences and state affairs. It is mostly remembered for the Power behind the Throne when the late 19th century empress dowagers held audience behind a screen.
Beyond the inner palaces, the Ming Imperial Garden is a delightful haven, dotted with pavilions and temples, rockeries and ancient trees.
Forbidden City, Beijing Palace Museum
Also known as Beijing Palace Museum, the Forbidden City claims an important collection of traditional Chinese artwork. Many artefacts were removed to Taiwan during the civil war but Beijing’s Hall of Treasures holds numerous exhibits, mostly collections from the Qing Court. These include paintings, calligraphy, ceramics and porcelain, jade and bronze ware.
The Clock and Watch Exhibition Hall displays around 200 items, some presented as gifts by foreign missions, others offered as tributes by Chinese craftsmen from Guangzhou and Suzhou.
