Introduction

The Forbidden City is an awe-inspiring building situated in the center of Beijing city and towards the northern side of Tiananmen Square. It was constructed during the early Ming Dynasty in 1420 and took a total of 14 years to build from 1406 to 1420. Construction was done by a million workers and another one hundred thousand artisans who were subjected to long term hard labor yet displayed very impressive and considerable skills in building the City. For instance, the bricks used are extremely strong and were made from white lime and glutinous rice and the cement used was made from glutinous rice and egg whites.

The city is one of the world's most captivating royal structures and global landmarks where visitors can discover Chinese history more comprehensively as well as learn about Chinese culture. It actually once served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911) and people were forbidden to enter into this city without special permission from the emperor. The last occupant who was even the last emperor of imperial China: Puyi left in 1925 after which the precinct was converted into the Palace Museum. The city covers a total of 74 hectares and it is surrounded by a 52 meters wide moat and a 10 meters high wall with gates on each side of the wall. The distance between the south Meridia Gate and the North Gate is 961 meters and the distance between the east and west gates is 753 meters. There are also other unique towers on each of the four corners of the wall that give excellent views of both the palace inside and the city outside.

The Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The southern section where the emperor exercised his supreme power and the northern section where the emperor lived with his royal family. The architectural style chosen for the Forbidden City reflects a sense of hierarchy with each structure designed in accordance with State Building Standards in Chinese social structure. Its design features a central axis, a symmetrical design of the outer court in the front and inner court at the rear part including courtyards derived from Yuan city layout.

Things and activities to do on a visit

Tickets of the attraction get tourists advanced reservation to visit the Beijing Palace Museum housed inside the Forbidden City and discover the rich and varied history of this breathtaking palace.

Palace Museum

The Forbidden City holds more than a million rare and valuable works of art, cultural relics and countless cultural artifacts from China’s long and splendid history dating all the way back from its earliest dynasties. There are also numerous exhibits going on in the Palace Museum with a collection of jade pieces, calligraphy, ceramics, paintings, bronzes, ancient books, historical documents and timepieces. In addition to this, there are also digital presentations with numerous sights to see and learn.

The Outer Court

The outer court has three main buildings, where emperors attended grand ceremonies and conducted state affairs. It contains spectacular palace compounds including the emperor’s places for religious rituals, formal reception halls and where state ceremonies are carried out. The first hall known as the hall of supreme harmony is the most important and largest structure in the Forbidden City and is where the emperors' Dragon Throne is situated. The second hall situated behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the place where Emperors would rehearse their presentations and speeches before heading to the Temple of Heaven for sacrificial ceremonies. It is also the resting place of the emperors before presiding over grand events held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The last hall is the hall used for banquets and imperial examinations.

Inner Court

This inner court is what was known as the domestic space, dedicated mainly to the imperial family. It includes the palaces in the northern part of the Forbidden City. The northeastern corner of the complex is known as the Tranquil Longevity Sector where the Empress Dowager and the many imperial concubines resided where visitors can see well preserved nine dragon wall particularly noted as one of just three of this type of decorations that remains prominent in China. The Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong) is located on the south while the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (Jiaotaidian) where imperial weddings and familial ceremonies took place. In addition to the living quarters, you can admire the beautifully preserved architecture.

The western and eastern sides of the inner court were back in the days reserved for the retired emperor and empress dowager. The last major construction in the imperial precinct took place when Emperor Qianlong built his post-retirement palace and the Hall of Pleasant Longevity in the northeast corner of the Forbidden City. There are also structures for the imperial family’s religious activities in the inner court towards the eastern and western sides where the Buddhist and Daoist temples are located.  

Hall of Clocks

This impressive Hall of Clocks features unique, intricate and lavish timepieces that were gifted to Qing emperors by different European leaders from the 17th.

Traditional Gardens  

There are a couple of gorgeously preserved grounds side gardens to explore and learn Chinese history through the countless cultural artifacts.