9th Destination… August 2022
Parents’
wishes
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 believed 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 affairs. 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 Be Dian)
- The Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿Zhong He Dian)
- The Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿Bao Be Dian)
A
couple of side gardens doted with interesting halls are also there for the
pleasure of visitors.
Out of
the 3 buildings, 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 examinations.
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 Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility (坤宁宫Kun Ning Gong)
- The Palace of Union and Peace (交泰殿Jiao Tai Dian)
- The Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility (坤宁宫Kun Ning Gong)
Beside
them, 12 more palaces stand: 6 on the eastern side, 6 on the western side.
These were the residences of the emperors' concubines converted today into
exhibition halls.
The
Palace of Heavenly Purity is the first 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.
Exit
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 |
 |
| The Hall of Mental Cultivation |
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| Imperial Garden |
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