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Why the
Forbidden City
in Beijing is special
For nearly 500 years (1420-1911), twenty four emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled China from inside
the Forbidden City. It has lavishly decorated ceremonial
halls and royal palaces that were built to impress
the eye.
 The emperors lived
within the massive walls and seldom ventured outside. Palace
intrigue and internal political power struggles were common.
Forbidden City
tips & insights
The
Forbidden City gained its ominous sounding sobriquet because entry was once
strictly prohibited without royal authorization. A visit without that sanction
would automatically cost your life.
The compound goes by several names: "Public Museum"
(new official name), "Imperial City" (old official name),
and "Forbidden City" (which most
travelers call it).
The Forbidden City is well preserved for its age.
For years, the government has been making a major effort
in renovating the palace, bringing it back to its
former architectural grandeur.
The
Forbidden City is so expansive and complex that
I recommend you reserve a minimum of a
half day on your first visit just to become acquainted with it. Then return to
absorb the details.
The Forbidden City measures 960 meters (3200 feet) by
750 meters (2500 feet) in size. That's equivalent
to over 20 football fields.
The
palace is surrounded by a thick, 10 meter (33
foot) high defensive wall that is in turn surrounded by a
moat as wide as a river.
The
rooms in the Forbidden City once numbered 9,999
(nine is a lucky digit).
The
largest and most famous structure is the Hall of
Supreme Harmony (see photo), where imperial
ceremonies were held.
Some
six thousand people lived in the Forbidden City.
This included the emperor and his royal family,
and his concubines, servants and eunuchs (who were prolific instigators
of royal intrigue).
The
final emperor resident was Puyi, the young male
depicted in Bertolucci's 1987 epic, "The Last
Emperor." Puyi was permanently evicted in 1924.
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