In the middle of Beijing, China, a palace that has been standing for about 600 years is found surrounded by a moat that is more than two miles long. This fantastic building has been home to twenty-four Chinese emperors in 491 years and has 9,999 rooms. It is known as the Forbidden City.The construction of the palace began in 1406 when the third Ming Emperor moved China's capital to Beijing. It took nearly 14 years to complete, but when it was finished it was the pride of China. The Forbidden City covers an area of about 7,800,000 sq feet and was home to the Ming and Quing Dynasties.
The Forbidden City, named that because citizens were forbidden to enter, can be divided into two sections: the Inner Court and the Outer Court. The Inner Court included the Emperor and his family's living quarters and the Outer Court was used for ceremonial purposes. When you enter through the Meridian Gate, you come across the Inner Golden Water River. There are five bridges that go over the river and each one was meant for specific people. The two outer bridges, known as the High Ranking Officials Bridges, were for officials ranking above the third grade. The next two bridges in were for members of the imperial house and are known as the Nobles Bridges. The center bridge is for the Emperor only and is called the Imperial Bridge.
After crossing the river and the Gate of Supreme Harmony, you find yourself in perhaps the most well-known part of the Forbidden City: the Hall of Supreme Harmony Square. This building is the oldest standing wooden building in China. During the Ming Dynasty the Hall was used as a court and to discuss important affairs. During the Qing Dynasty the building was used for coronations, investitures, and imperial weddings instead of for trials and discussions. Today the Hall of Supreme Harmony Square is visited by thousands of people each year.The Forbidden City is the oldest standing structure in China and has been home to many emperors over the years. Though it is no longer used for royalty, it is still visited by many tourists who wish to experience a little of China's unique and diverse history. I hope that you learned something new about this well-known city in a city after reading this blog. Thanks for following us on our journey across Asia!
~Emily
If you are interested in learning more about this ancient city, check out some of these links:
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