The Forbidden City located at the heart of Beijing is one of the most important palaces in the world. It housed 24 emperors of the Qing and Ming dynasty. The imperial regime ended 90 years ago upon the dissolution of "boy emperor" Puyi and thus welcomed the start of the Palace Musuem. Planning to visit? Here are some of the things that you need to know
Why is it called the Forbidden City?
The Forbidden City is translated as "Zǐ jìn Chéng" in Chinese which is interpreted as the Purple Forbidden City. The Purple Palace is believed to be the house of God and Chinese tradition replicated this concept to house the most revered and powerful man at that time, the emperor.
Another reason why it is called the Forbidden City is because the locals and peasants were not allowed to enter the palace. If you went in unannounced, the punishment was immediate execution.
The Palace Museum offers a lot of historical artifacts that are preserved for the public:
1. Hall of Martial Valor
Enter the Gate of Prosperous Harmony to reach the Hall of Martial Valor. This hall housed the painting and calligraphy section. Here you can see ancient paintings from Jin, Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties.
2. Hall of Literary Glory
Enter the Gate of unified to Harmony to reach the Hall of Literary Glory. This hall housed ceramics section of the palace. It has 429 pieces of ancient potteries which covers 1.770 square meters.
3. Hall for Ancestry Worship
The Hall for Ancestry Worship is located at the east side of the Inner Court of the Palace. It housed the clock and watch gallery which comprises two hundred different kinds of timepieces like mechanical clocks and sun dials.
4. Treasure Gallery
Treasure Gallery consists of Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, Hall of Joyful Longevity, and Belvedere of Well-Nourished Harmony. These halls housed important and beautiful jewelries of the Qing and Ming dynasty. They include jade, gold, silver, pearls, tea utensils, imperial robes, phoenix crown, and many others.
5. Other Galleries
Other galleries that you must also check out are Stone Drum Gallery, Gold and Silver Gallery, Jade Gallery, Bronze Gallery, and Opera Gallery.
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