Synopsis
The former Chinese imperial palace and the world's largest ancient palatial complex. Covering 72 hectares with 980 buildings and 1.86 million artifacts. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Overview
The Forbidden City (Chinese: 故宫/紫禁城), located in the center of Beijing, is the former Chinese imperial palace and the largest and best-preserved ancient palatial complex in the world. Covering approximately 72 hectares (720,000 square meters), it contains over 980 buildings and more than 8,700 rooms, making it the largest ancient wooden architectural complex on Earth.
Construction began in 1406 under Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty and was completed in 1420. For over 500 years, from 1420 to 1924, it served as the residence of 24 emperors (14 from the Ming Dynasty and 10 from the Qing Dynasty) and was the center of political power in China. On October 10, 1925, the Palace Museum was officially established and opened to the public.
In 1987, the Forbidden City was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as "the supreme model in the development of ancient Chinese palaces." It attracts over 17 million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited museums in the world. The Forbidden City is not only a treasure of Chinese civilization but a shared cultural heritage of all humanity.
Historical Timeline
Yongle Period (1406–1420): Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty ordered the construction of the Forbidden City when he moved the capital to Beijing. The project took 14 years, employing approximately 100,000 craftsmen and one million laborers. Modeled on the Nanjing palace but grander in scale.
Ming and Qing Dynasties (1420–1912): Over 500 years, the palace underwent numerous renovations and expansions. Emperors Jiajing of the Ming, and Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing, all undertook major restoration projects.
Republican Era (1912–1925): After the Qing emperor's abdication in 1912, Puyi and the imperial family continued to live in the inner court under favorable treatment terms. In 1924, warlord Feng Yuxiang expelled Puyi from the Forbidden City. The Palace Museum was established in 1925.
Modern Conservation: Since 1949, the Forbidden City has undergone several major restoration projects. In recent years, the "Comprehensive Conservation Plan" has been implemented to restore the palace to its historical appearance. For its 600th anniversary in 2019, the open area was expanded from 30% to over 80% of the total complex.
Architectural Layout
The Forbidden City's layout strictly follows the principles of Chinese symmetrical design and axial alignment:
Outer Court (前朝): Centered on the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and Hall of Preserving Harmony — the three great halls where emperors held major ceremonies. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest building in the Forbidden City, with a floor area of 2,377 square meters and a height of 35 meters, making it the largest existing wooden structure in China.
Inner Court (后宫): Centered on the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and Palace of Earthly Tranquility — the living quarters of the emperor and empress. The Palace of Heavenly Purity served as the emperor's residence and daily administrative center.
Six Eastern and Six Western Palaces: Located on either side of the inner court, these twelve palace compounds were the residences of imperial concubines, each with its own independent courtyard.
Imperial Garden: Located at the northern end of the inner court, this royal garden features ancient trees, rockeries, and ornamental pavilions.
Moat and Corner Towers: The palace is surrounded by a 52-meter-wide moat and 10-meter-high walls. Four exquisitely crafted corner towers at the corners of the walls form one of Beijing's most iconic skyline features.
Cultural Treasures
The Palace Museum houses a collection of over 1.86 million artifacts, making it the largest museum of ancient Chinese art and culture:
Painting and Calligraphy: Masterworks from the Jin Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, including national treasures like "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" and "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains."
Ceramics: Approximately 360,000 porcelain pieces spanning from the Neolithic period to the Qing Dynasty, with Song Dynasty Five Great Kilns and Ming-Qing imperial wares being the most prized.
Jade: About 30,000 jade artifacts, from Neolithic Liangzhu culture ceremonial jade to Qing Dynasty carved jade pieces.
Bronze Ware: Approximately 16,000 bronze pieces, including Shang and Zhou Dynasty ritual vessels such as ding, gui, and jue.
Clocks and Watches: Around 1,500 Chinese and foreign timepieces, with mechanically complex gilt-copper clocks produced by the Qing Imperial Workshops being particularly remarkable.
Practical Information
Opening Hours: Peak season (April–October) 8:30–17:00; off-season (November–March) 8:30–16:30. Closed on Mondays (except national holidays).
Tickets: Peak season 60 RMB; off-season 40 RMB. Advance online booking is recommended through the Palace Museum website. Daily visitor limit: 80,000.
Transportation: Subway Line 1 to Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West station, then a short walk.
Recommended Route: Meridian Gate → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Hall of Central Harmony → Hall of Preserving Harmony → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Hall of Union → Palace of Earthly Tranquility → Imperial Garden → Gate of Divine Prowess (approximately 2–3 hours).
Tips: Large backpacks and pets are not allowed. Some exhibition halls require separate reservations. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
References
- Wikipedia - Forbidden City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City
- UNESCO World Heritage https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/439
- Palace Museum Official Website https://www.dpm.org.cn/
- China Discovery https://www.chinadiscovery.com/beijing/forbidden-city.html
Stills & Gallery
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