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10 Jun 2009
At our final morning in Beijing, we decided to visit the most famous landmark, the Forbidden Palace (紫禁城, Zǐjinchéng). Built in 1420 CE, this UNESCO site houses the throne of the Ming and Qing Dynasties as well as large collections of artifacts. The Palace was further extended and modified in the Qing Dynasty after the Manchurians took over. The Palace is located right in the middle of Beijing and forms a straight line together with Tiananmen Square, Mao's Mausoleum and the Bird's Nest Stadium in the 2008 Olympic complex. Of three royal palaces I have visited (Tokapi Palace and Red Fort), this is the largest ever built.
Ariel view of the Forbidden Palace and the straight line it forms with the Olympic Complex in the North
Back to Tiananmen in the morning. We were just here last night
The Great Hall of the People where the Congress meets
Walking through Tiananmen, all gates are pefectly aligned to the throne
Mao's Mausoleum behind the Monument to the People's Heroes
Taken from within the Tiananmen -- shows the care taken to align all structures including the huge flagpole flying the PRC's flag
Cannons along the way as we walked to the main entrance to the Forbidden City
The main entrance, ticketing booth is on the right
Our two person ticket. CNY 60 per person. A cheap price compared to the size of this place
A bronze lion
The Gate of Supreme Harmony
Panorama at the compound of the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Each of these important buildings and gates are part of a huge open compound.
After passing the Gate of Supreme Harmony, we are greated with another huge compound with the Hall of Supreme Harmony
Panorama of courtyard of the Hall of Supreme Harmony compound
An elaborate carved stone on the stairs with dragons. Only the emperor may walk on the middle path, some are made with marble. Within the palace compound, most middle passage/stairs/doors are blocked - no entry for common people like us.
As noted previously in the Summer Palace, important buildings have figures on the corners of the roof. The more figures of mythical characters, the more imporatant the building. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the only building to have a full set of 12 characters.
Even the steps are carved
A pattern on one of the doorways
The throne room within the Hall of Supreme Harmony
With a huge carpet
Copper and Iron Vats for Fire Safety, these were placed all around the palace compound after a huge fire
Hall of Central Harmony, first built 1420 CE, used by the Emperor to rest while traveling from the back of the palace to the front halls. This illustrates the size of this place. You need to rest even though you are being carried. Most buildings have their name on the blue board in the middle in two scripts, the Chinese characters and Manchurian script added after the Manchus took over.
Hall of Central Harmony
Hall of Preserved Harmony
Inside the Hall of Preserved Harmony
The largest stone carving in palace that is 16.75 metres long and weighs more than 200 tonnes. The stone was brought into palace by sprinkling water on the ground during winter and sliding it along. Made in early Ming Dyanasty, defaced and recarved in Qing Dynasty by Emperor Qianlong.
Most buildings have two guardian animals or mythical creatures
Palace of Heavenly Purity, built in the Ming Dynasty 1420 CE
Inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, political affairs of the Emperor was handled here. The Yongzheng Emperor hid the "Heir Apparent Box" behind the Zhen Da Guang Ming board (正大光明, written from right to left).
Hill of Accumulated Elegance 1583 CE, made by piling stones on top of each other. We have mostly walked through the center part of the palace to reach the palace gardens near the rear
Pavilion of Ten Thousand Spring Seasons
The ceiling on the inside of the Pavilion
Lacebark Pine, a special and precious tree grown in the imperial palace with interesting colours
A sun dial
Another ticket that costs CNY 10 per person for entrance to the Museum of Treasures
The famous 9 dragon wall usually featured in many soap operas of the imperial palace was nearby
Red Coral Lion, Qing Dynasty
Empress Court Hat, Qing Dynasty
Gold Candlestick inlaid with Gems
Miniature Plum Blossom made with pearls
Well of Concubine Zhen, supported Emperor Guangxu's modernization plans. It was said she was drowned here on orders of Empress Dowager Cixi in 1900 CE when the 8 Allied forces attacked Beijing.
Gate of Divine Powess within the palace compound. This is the exit to the streets
Jingshan Hill north of the Forbidden Palace
The rear Gate of Divine Powess, with the words that says "The Palace Museum". This was the gate where Emperors often flee from. The last Emperor Puyi was driven out from here in 1924.
On board our Air China flight home
Our meal on board
In all, the Forbidden Palace is a place that will take the entire day to fully explore. We have only managed to visit the main section of the palace, omitting other side exhibitions and the wings. Most buildings and important locations have signs and a short write-ups in English explaining their significance and history. However, the stories of palace intrigues are probably mainly accessible by hiring a tour guide.
This sums up our two week trip to China that took us from the South in Chengdu to the West in Tibet and finally to the north in Beijing. It was certainly a memorable experience.
This is the final post in this series. Return to the trip index here.
This sums up our two week trip to China that took us from the South in Chengdu to the West in Tibet and finally to the north in Beijing. It was certainly a memorable experience.
This is the final post in this series. Return to the trip index here.
