The Forbidden City

Symbols and signs of ancient China

The Forbidden City was first built in the fourth year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1406) and took fourteen years to complete. It was not only the home of the Ming and Qing emperors, but also the center of state power at that time, with a history of more than 600 years. As the largest and most well preserved ancient wooden palace complex in the world, its overall layout and architectural remains are still well preserved. The Forbidden City is centered around the three main halls (the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony), covering an area of about 720000 square meters and a building area of about 150000 square meters. The original design of the Forbidden City was 9999.5 rooms, which represents the emperor's supreme power，according to the latest on-site measurement by experts in 1973, the Forbidden City has over 90 courtyards of various sizes and 980 houses, totaling 8707 rooms. In 1987, the Forbidden City was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and became one of the symbols of Chinese culture. The Forbidden City is renowned for its magnificent architecture and rich collection. The Forbidden City is 961 meters long from north to south and 753 meters wide from east to west. It is surrounded by a 10 meter high wall and a 52 meter wide moat outside the city. At each corner of the city wall, there is a graceful corner tower, and there is a folk saying of nine beams, eighteen columns, and seventy-two ridges, describing its complex structure. The architecture of the Forbidden City is divided into two parts: the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The center of the Outer Court is the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, collectively known as the Three Great Halls. It is where the emperor handles political affairs and also where the country holds major ceremonies. The center of the inner court is Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union and Peace, and Palace of Earthly Tranquility, collectively known as the Rear Three Palaces, which are the main palaces where the emperor and empress reside. Behind the Rear Three Palaces is the imperial garden, the private courtyard of emperors and empresses, located on the north central axis of the Forbidden City. It is a essence of the royal garden with ingenious design and diverse functions. The collection of cultural relics in the Forbidden City is vast and profound, and can be regarded as an artistic treasure trove of China's 5000 year civilization. The museum houses over 1.8 million rare cultural relics, including bronze ware, calligraphy and painting, ceramics, jade, watches, jewelry, etc. The collection consists of 25 major categories, making it a treasure trove of art. Many of them were once royal treasures, and each cultural relic carries profound historical memories, jointly constructing a three-dimensional and visual history of Chinese civilization. These cultural relics not only represent the peak level of artistic creation and craftsmanship in Chinese history, but also fully reflect the political, cultural, social, and life changes of Chinese civilization over the past five thousand years. Nowadays, the Forbidden City is not only a museum, but also a living cultural palace. You can appreciate the magnificent architectural layout of the Forbidden City, and immerse yourself in the aesthetics of the Eastern court and the charm of Chinese civilization through digital guided tours, special exhibitions, and cultural creative experiences.