DK Travel : Beijing : Forbidden City

Forbidden City

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Officially known as the Palace Museum, this magnificent complex is a grand monument to the 24 emperors who ruled from its halls over a period of almost 500 years. The symbolic center of the Chinese universe, the palace was the exclusive domain of the imperial court from its completion in 1420 until the last of the emperors was forced to abdicate at the beginning of the 20th century. The modern world intruded in 1949, when the public were finally admitted through the palace gates.
For more places of interest in the vicinity of the Forbidden City See Tian’an Men Square and the Forbidden City

Top 10 Features

1. Meridian Gate

In Chinese it is the Wu Men. This is the traditional entrance to the palaces. From the balcony the emperor would review his armies and perform ceremonies marking the start of the new lunar year.
2. Golden Water

Five marble bridges, symbolizing the five cardinal virtues of Confucianism, span the Golden Water, which flows from west to east in a course designed to resemble the jade belt worn by the court officials.
3. Gate of Supreme Harmony

3. Gate of Supreme Harmony

The fourth and final great gate gives access into the Outer Court, the heart of the Forbidden City. The gate is guarded by two large bronze lions, classic imperial symbols of power and dignity. The lion on the right is the male; the one on the left with a cub under its foot is the female.
4. Hall of Supreme Harmony

4. Hall of Supreme Harmony

Raised on a triple tier of marble terraces, this largest of halls houses a sandalwood throne, used in the coronations of 24 emperors.
5. Hall of Preserving Harmony

The most spectacular aspect of this hall is the great carved ramp on the north side, sculpted with dragons and clouds, and made from a single piece of marble weighing more than 200 tons.
6. Gate of Heavenly Purity

6. Gate of Heavenly Purity

The only building in the whole palace not to have been burnt down at least once, and thus the oldest hall of all. It is the boundary between the Outer Court (official) and Inner Court (private).
7. Inner Court

7. Inner Court

The Inner Court is more intimate than the formal Outer Court, because this is where the emperor, empress, and the many concubines actually lived.
8. Imperial Garden

8. Imperial Garden

The emperor Qianlong wrote that, “Every ruler, when he has finished his public duties, must have a garden in which he can stroll, and relax his heart.” This formal garden, the oldest in the Forbidden City, has two beautiful pavilions.
9. Western Palaces

Much of the western flank of the complex is off limits, but some of the halls neighboring the Inner Court are visitable, including the Palace of Eternal Spring, where trompe-l’oeil paintings at the ends of passageways make them appear infinitely extended.
10. Eastern Palaces

East of the Inner Court are smaller halls where the emperor’s harem lived. Also here is the well down which the Empress Cixi had her nephew’s favorite concubine thrown.

Practical Information

The Forbidden City has its own branch of Starbucks. Most visitors buy their entrance tickets at the Meridian Gate, but to avoid the lengthy queues you could enter the Forbidden City from the north via the Gate of Divine Prowess, and visit in reverse. North of Tian’an Men Square 6513 225 Subway: Tian’an Men Xi or Tian’an Men Dong Open: Apr 16–Oct 15 8:30am–5pm daily. Oct 16–Apr 15 8:30am–4:30pm daily Admission: Apr 1–Oct 31 ¥60. Nov 1–Mar 31 ¥40. There are additional charges for certain halls Audio guides are available for ¥40 www.dpm.org.cn