Forbidden City in Beijing: the greatness and power of China. China: Forbidden City - Gugong Imperial Palace in Beijing (video)

Not the last role is played by the location, it is located in the very center of Beijing.

GPS coordinates

Opening hours / Schedule

8.30 – 17.00 – open
8.30 - 16.00 - ticket office hours

Price

Adult - 40 yuan
Child up to 1.2 m - free of charge
Audio guide rental - 40 yuan
Entrance to the east wing, the so-called treasury - 10 yuan

general information

forbidden city(other names - Forbidden Palace, Forbidden City)

This is a central place in the city, and therefore there are always a lot of people here. At the same time, those wishing to visit the Closed City do not care about the time of year. The best time to visit is early morning on a weekday. By forcing you to come here before others, you will save yourself from kilometer-long queues.

In summer it is very hot here - the sizzling sun will cherish your desire to hide under the shade, and closer to winter it is very cold - winds piercing to the bones walk. So the best time of the year to visit is autumn and spring. This is just a statement of fact, and visit at any time of the year, just be prepared.

Impression

The closed city is the place that is more impressive in documentaries. When visiting live, many complain about the monotony: behind one gate, an area appears almost identical to the one that was left behind. Much of the architecture is very similar. In part, we can agree with this and I recommend that you definitely take an audio guide. In this case, faceless and similar buildings will begin to come to life in your imagination.

Audio guides in Beijing work automatically. The story begins when you approach the right place. Of the pluses, you do not need to follow the map, of the minuses - it malfunctions. It can start earlier than the right place, sometimes end unexpectedly.

And that is not all. Lectures of audio guides are lame with all sorts of speech errors. Audio guides in Beijing are recorded by local Chinese who study Russian, hence the trouble.

On the other hand, it will be very insipid without an adio guide. How can you get superficial information. Anything is better than going through the Forbidden City and saying that it is nothing.

Many parts of the Forbidden City are closed to the public: some have never been opened, others are under restoration.

The city gave me a gloomy feeling. Everything is somehow too dry, without life. Maybe, of course, everything was different before, but now the bare, straight, stone walls from all sides are depressing. It is not surprising that some of the emperors preferred to spend most of their time in.

Be sure to climb the hill ( jinshan park) outside the Forbidden City. When you are inside the palace, this is one thing, and when you look at it from a height, it is another. If you imagine that you are 300 years behind and you can see this city from a height, you will feel in touch with a miracle. After all, it was impossible to get there, what was happening there was unknown to a mere mortal.

Photos of the Forbidden City

Queue at the checkpoint. All Chinese people are checked and identified. Foreigners are treated more loyally, they do not look at their passports. But it's best to have it with you just in case.

The ticket is bought at the box office on the left side of the entrance. Then we go straight and see the turnstiles.

Behind them is a building where you can take an audio guide.

Here is such a thing

Entering the Forbidden City
(Rebus: find the ninja in the photo below)

It's not the same building. I've already talked about similarity.

This is the original building we passed through.

It is disappointing that you cannot go inside the most important palace premises. You can only huddle in the crowd to move closer to the open viewing area. It's scary to imagine what's going on here in the summer.

And with some palaces, things are even worse: you need to look through the window.

And then you can see the interior.

Territory of the Forbidden City

View of the side buildings

One of the side entrances in the Closed City

In this place, surrounded by trees in ancient times, emperors chose their concubines from pretty girls 15-17 years old brought from all over the area. So, for example, the great empress was chosen here Ci Xi subsequently ruling China from 1861 to 1908.

Before visiting the main attractions of Beijing, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the last two centuries of Chinese history. In particular, read, for example, on Wikipedia about Empress Dowager Ci Xi, about whom a lot will be told in audio guides.

The building is built on wonderful stones nearby. Only the emperor and his wife could go upstairs. This happened once a year on one of the holidays.

Ceiling in one of the unremarkable rooms

Wall of Nine Dragons. There are several Nine Dragon Walls. This one was built in 1771 and is located in the Forbidden City at the entrance towards the treasury. The entrance is separate and paid (10 yuan). The second wall can be seen near the Forbidden City, in Beihai Park.

Not just dragons 9. This figure in China has a sacred meaning. And the dragons themselves in China are good creatures, they are created to protect and support from evil spirits and all that is bad.

Selected expositions from the treasury of the Forbidden City.

For centuries, Chinese emperors ruled in the mysterious Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City is located in Beijing and is one of the famous landmarks of China. The Forbidden City is considered the largest palace complex in the world.

Legend of the Forbidden City

In Chinese, the Forbidden City is Gu Gong, which means " old palace". Initially, the Forbidden City was called purple. On this occasion, there is interesting legend. In general, the Forbidden City is entangled with religious and mythical concepts. This can be evidenced by various sculptures, the location of palaces, the decoration and decoration of halls, symbolizing something of their own. The structure of the Forbidden City was conceived in a dream by the monk Yongle. The monk was saying that there was an extraterrestrial city where the Heavenly Sovereign lived in a purple palace. Chinese astrologers believed that purple is a symbol of joy, happiness and that the PoleStar is purple. The PoleStar star was formed as a result of the merger of 15 celestial bodies. As a result, the emperor decided that he was the Son of Heaven, and therefore called to maintain harmony between man and nature. In order to establish a balance between nature and man, you need to build the Forbidden City, which will be located right under the purple star, in the very center of the world. By the way, purple could only be used by the emperor. Only the emperor signed documents with special purple ink.

General information about the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City was an imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1644). Over the years, 24 emperors lived and ruled in the palace. The construction of the Forbidden City began in 1407 during the reign of Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty. The construction took about 14 years. More than 200,000 people were involved in the construction of the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City showcases the Chinese' considerable building skills. The technology for making bricks using glutinous rice and lime was not so complicated, but at the same time, the walls built from this brick proved to be durable. If the walls are built of brick, then the buildings in the city are built almost entirely of wood. In this regard, in those days, there was a risk of fire, because. candles were used as lighting. To quickly extinguish the fire, vats of water were provided, which were located near the buildings. There are a total of 308 vats located throughout the Forbidden City. The vats were installed on stone stands, thus it was possible to make a fire under the vat without letting the water freeze in winter period time.

The symbol of the imperial family was yellow, which became the dominant color in the decoration of the city. roofs, interior design palace, paving stones are made in yellow. Yellow symbolizes the earth. However, there is an exception, for example, the roof of the Royal Library is covered with black tiles. This is due to the fact that black symbolizes water, which means that if a fire occurs, it will be easy to prevent it. In addition, the roofs of the palaces where the heirs of the emperor lived were covered with green tiles, which symbolized growth.

On each roof of the building there are figurines, the number of which corresponds to the number of people living in the building. Only on the roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony there are 10 statuettes. This number symbolizes the sky and the sanctity of the building. But the personal number of the emperor is the number 9.

The Forbidden City covers 74 hectares of land. There are about 800 buildings with 9000 rooms on the territory of the city. The city is surrounded by a 52 m wide moat filled with water and a 10 m high wall. The Forbidden City is divided into outer and inner courtyards, between which are long corridors. On four sides of the wall there are gates, the entrance through which was regulated by strict rules. It was forbidden to enter the city without special permission.

Attractions of the Forbidden City

Meridian Gate (Wumen)

Meridian Gate or Wumen. This is the name of the southern gate, which is one of the entrances to the Forbidden City. The Chinese emperors considered themselves the sons of Heaven, which means they must live in the center of the universe. The emperors firmly believed that the Meridian line passes through the Forbidden City, hence the name of the gate. The South Gate is the most majestic gate of the Forbidden City. The word "gate" is presented as one whole, but in fact the Meridian Gate consists of 5 openings, the highest of them has a height of 3.5 m. The gates are crowned with towers, each tower has bells. In the old days, the ringing of bells announced the departure of the emperor to the Temple of Heaven.

Everyone observed strict rules for the use of the South Gate. Only the emperor could pass through the central arch of the gate. The Empress could only pass through the central arch once in her life, on her wedding day. The arch located west of the central was used by members of the royal family. The arch located east of the central one was used by the ministers. The remaining arches were intended for the entry of minor officials. Ordinary people were forbidden to enter the Forbidden City.

In the photo below, a view of Meridian Gate from inside the city.

After entering through the Meridian Gate, the courtyard of the Forbidden City opens with five bridges, which symbolize the virtue of a person, a sense of duty, wisdom, reliability, decency. The so-called Golden River flows under the bridges. The central bridge was intended solely for the use of the emperor. Two bridges on both sides of the central bridge were used by members of the royal family, and two bridges on the edges were intended for ordinary officials.

Hall of Literary Fame and Hall of Military Valor

Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian) and Hall of Military Valor (Wuyingdian) are located next to Meridian Gate. In the Hall of Literary Glory, matters of national importance were decided, officials were received, and reports of the emperor were read. During the Ming Dynasty, a young prince was trained in the Hall.

The Hall of Literary Glory includes several more halls, among which the Hall of Kindness and the Hall of Righteousness can be noted. Currently, the Hall of Literary Fame houses the Museum of Ceramics, which exhibits pottery from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Initially, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty lived and worked in the Hall of Martial Valor, and only then he settled in the Hall of Literary Glory. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty lived and worked in the Hall of Martial Valor. In the same hall, small-scale ceremonies and religious rites. Later, a book printing house was opened in the Hall of Military Valor. Until 1869, books were printed in the Hall, until a fire broke out.

Currently, the Hall of Martial Valor houses an art gallery with a large number of rare and ancient Chinese paintings. By the way, tourists are forbidden to take pictures of precious paintings. However, the ban does not apply to some paintings.

Gate of Supreme Harmony (TaiHeMen)

The Gate of Supreme Harmony (TaiHeMen) is the main gate of the outer court. The gate is guarded by two bronze lions. The lion located to the west symbolizes the imperial power that extends to the whole world. On the eastern side, a lioness, putting her left paw on a lion cub, symbolizes the prosperity of the imperial family.

The lions located at the Gate of Supreme Harmony are the largest of all six pairs of bronze lions in the Forbidden City. During the Ming Dynasty, the emperor and all officials gathered at the Gate of Supreme Harmony every morning to discuss state affairs. The only exceptions were rainy, snowy or windy days.

Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City

The Hall of Supreme Harmony (TaiHeDian) was the throne room and the most tall building in the Forbidden City. The Hall of Supreme Harmony and the adjacent courtyard were the venue for various ceremonies, such as imperial weddings, Chinese New Year, and other important events.

On the marble terrace, there are 18 bronze ancient Chinese vessels, symbolizing the 18 provinces of China that existed at that time. On the terrace you can also see a bronze turtle, symbolizing longevity.

On the east and west sides are marble sundial and an ancient vessel of measurements, symbolizing the justice of emperors.

The windows and doors of the Hall of Supreme Harmony are decorated with drawings of dragons playing in the clouds. The drawing is carved on brass plates.

Inside the Hall is a throne made of sandalwood. The throne, located in the very center of the hall, stands on a platform of two meters and is surrounded by six golden pillars (not gold) with images of dragons. Above the throne, on the ceiling, there is a design of two dragons playing with pearls. Pearls are made of glass and filled with mercury. In the event that the throne was captured by enemies, the glass pearl would fall down, as a result of which the enemy would die.

Hall of Perfect Harmony (Zhonghedian)

The Hall of Complete Harmony (Zhonghedian) is located between the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian). The Hall of Perfect Harmony is the smallest of the three halls mentioned above. Unlike other halls in the Forbidden City, the Hall of Perfect Harmony is square instead of rectangular.

In the Hall of Complete Harmony, the emperor rested and prepared for the ceremonies held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In this Hall, the emperor held negotiations with various ministers, and also rehearsed his speeches before the start of important events held in the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth and other temples.

Inside the Hall, on both sides of the throne, there are statues of golden unicorns. Unicorns were considered mythical creatures capable of moving 9,000 km in one day. and speak in different languages. This figure is not accidental, it was believed that the number 9 is sacred. The number 9 belonged to the emperor, even the statuettes on the roof were arranged in such a way that the statuette of the emperor was the ninth in a row. In addition, unicorns symbolized the wisdom and high intelligence of the emperor.

Hall of Preserving Harmony

The Hall of Preservation of Harmony was used in different ways in different periods of government. During the Ming Dynasty, in the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the empress or crown princes dressed in festive clothes before the start of the solemn event. During the Qing Dynasty, the Hall was used for banquets. For example, in honor of the celebration of the marriage of the princess.

Behind the Hall of Preservation of Harmony is installed stone wall depicting nine dragons playing with pearls. During the reign of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the wall was considered sacred. Anyone who touched the wall was subject to the death penalty.

The wall weighs about 250 tons. To transport the stone to the Forbidden City, 20,000 people, thousands of horses and mules were involved. The transportation of the stone lasted for one month.

Gate of Heavenly Purity (QianQingMen)

The Gate of Heavenly Purity (QianQingMen) divides the Forbidden City into an outer and an inner courtyard. The entrance to the Gate of Heavenly Purity is guarded by two lions.

In general, there are many statues of lions in the Forbidden City, but the lions installed at the Gate of Heavenly Purity are somewhat different. The difference concerns primarily the ears of lions. Unlike other lions, the bronze lions standing at the Gate of Heavenly Purity have their ears flattened. This seemingly insignificant detail symbolizes the non-interference of women in public affairs.

Along the walls of the gate there are 10 gilded bronze vats, which are designed to store water in case of fire. The emperors sitting on the throne, installed in the middle of the gate, heard reports and made important decisions.

Palace of Heavenly Purity of the Forbidden City

The Palace of Heavenly Purity was considered the emperor's bedroom. The palace is a smaller copy of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In the center of the palace stands a throne, surrounded by long red candles and mirrors to scare away evil spirits. Sayings of the Qing emperors are written on the pillars, and a tablet hangs above the throne, the inscription on which means honesty and openness. The palace was used not only as a bedroom, but also as a place for conducting important state affairs. Sometimes, banquets and various ceremonies were held in the palace. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty, the coffin with the deceased emperor was in the Palace of Heavenly Purity for several days, and only then the emperor was buried in the mausoleum.

Hall of Heavenly and Earthly Union (Jiaotaidian)

The Hall of Heavenly and Earthly Union (Jiaotaidian) is one of the three main palaces in the inner courtyard of the Forbidden City. Hall symbolizes strong union heaven (emperor) and earth (empress), the emperor and empress should live in harmony and respect with each other. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty, the birthdays of the empress were celebrated in the Heavenly and Earthly Union Hall. High-ranking ladies and princesses bowed and congratulated the Empress. And on the Winter Solstice and the Spring Festival, people went to the Hall to pay their respects to the Empress. A clepsydra is exhibited in the hall, the only water clock that has survived to this day. Clepsydras allowed the Chinese to tell time by drops of water.

In addition, there are 25 imperial caskets located on both sides of the throne in the main hall. Once upon a time, imperial seals were kept in these caskets, but now the seals have been transferred to the Jewels Gallery. Each seal had its own purpose, for example, the "Huangdi Zhibao" seal was used when issuing imperial decrees, and the "Mingde Zhibao" seal was used in case of rewarding employees of the imperial court.
Palace of Earthly Peace (KunNingGong)

The Palace of Earthly Peace (KunNingGong) was the residence of the empresses of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The palace was dominated by the red color, which symbolized happiness. So, they were painted red internal walls palace, red candles stood everywhere, beds were made with beautiful red bedspreads embroidered with colored silk threads.

The palace was large, because Emperors hoped for a large number of children. Some emperors held wedding ceremonies in this palace. During a certain period of reign, some rooms in the palace were places for sacrifices. On each first and 15th day of the month, the emperor and empress held divine rituals in the palace. Some solemn ceremonies were also held in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, such as the first day of the New Year. Gradually, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility became a sacred place for sacrificial rites.

Hall of Spiritual Prosperity

The Hall of Spiritual Prosperity was built during the Ming Dynasty. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty, the hall was used for some time as an office of the emperor, where state affairs were decided. Eight of all the emperors of the Qing Dynasty lived and worked in the Hall of Spiritual Prosperity. Meetings of the emperor with foreign ambassadors, political and military negotiations with ministers were held in the hall. Today, the Hall of Spiritual Prosperity houses a gallery of imperial treasures. Among the treasures are tea and table sets made of gold, silver and jade.

Six Western and Six Eastern Palaces of the Forbidden City

The six western palaces were the living quarters where the empress and her concubines lived. At different times, different empresses lived in one of the six palaces. If at night they noticed concubines on the streets of the city, by order of the emperor, the eunuchs brought the guilty concubine to the palace, where she was searched for weapons. Some emperors, distinguished by their cruelty, severely punished their concubines. With the exception of the emperor and his sons, all other men in the Forbidden City were eunuchs. Such a rule was necessary in order for the emperor to be sure that the children born belong to him.

The six eastern palaces, as well as the six western palaces, were home to empresses and her concubines. The architectural complex consists of six palaces, namely the Palace of Great Benevolence (Jingrengong), the Palace of Accumulation of Purity (Zhongcuigong), the Palace of Heavenly Benefit (Chengqiangong), the Palace of Great Brilliance (Jingyanggong), the Palace of Eternal Harmony (Yonghegong) and the Palace of Prolongation of Happiness (Yanxigong) . All palaces are square in shape. The Palace of Great Benevolence was where the concubines of the Ming Dynasty lived. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty was born in the same palace. The Accumulation of Purity Palace was the home of the crown princes of the Ming Dynasty emperors. Now the Accumulation of Purity Palace is an exhibition hall of jade products. Previously, the concubines of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties lived in the Palace of Heavenly Benefit. Now, Chinese bronze products are exhibited in the palace. The Palace of the Great Brilliance was used to store books, and the wives of emperors lived in the Palace of Eternal Harmony. Currently, museums are located in the palaces, namely the museum of silver and gold items and the museum of bronze mirrors.

Hall of Ancestral Worship and the Palace of Lent

The Hall of Ancestor Worship (FengXianDian) was built in 1656 during the Qing Dynasty. In the Hall they paid tribute to the ancestors of the emperor. On the days of birth and death of ancestors, religious ceremonies were held in the hall and traditional holidays. Currently, the Hall of Ancestral Worship houses an exhibition of clocks from that era. The exhibition hall presents a collection of almost 200 watches. Watches, in most cases, were gifts from foreign ambassadors to the emperor.

The Palace of Lent or the Palace of Abstinence was the place where the emperor spent several days abstaining from wine, onions, garlic, prayers, love affairs, and other petty things. The emperor had to observe a fast before making a sacrifice to heaven.

Imperial Garden and Pleasant Sounds Pavilion

The Imperial Garden covers an area of ​​about 12,000 sq. m. The garden is decorated with flower beds, rockeries, sculptures and pavilions in the classical Chinese style. The garden was planted with cypresses, acacias, exotic flowers and rare herbs, which were combined in composition with bronze statues, golden unicorns, stones.

The garden was intended for the emperor and his family. In the garden, the emperor and the entire royal family rested and drank tea. The emperor often meditated in the garden, played chess. In the center of the garden is the Imperial Peace Hall. The hall was built in the 15th century. The entrance to the hall is guarded by two gilded unicorns that drive away evil spirits.

In each of the four corners of the garden are small buildings, symbolizing the four seasons. In the northeast is the Imperial View Pavilion, which rises on a mountain, from where an amazing landscape opens up.

Opposite the entrance to the hall there are two pine trees with intertwined trunks, which are over 400 years old. Pine trees symbolize the harmony of the emperor and empress. Many visitors come to the garden to hug these two trees and ask for a happy marriage.

The Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds was a place for dramatic theatrical performances. The performances were devoted to holidays, such as the Spring Festival or the Lantern Festival, as well as the New Year and other important events. The performance was watched by the emperor and empress, as well as all members of the royal family. The pavilion consists of several floors provided for scenery, which rose to a certain height.

Gate of Divine Prowess

The Gate of Divine Valor is the northern gate and the only way out of the Forbidden City. However, the emperor could leave the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate, while the Gate of Divine Valor was the only way out. The gate is a rectangle with three doorways. During the Ming Dynasty, there was a market at the gate that ran every 4th, 14th and 24th day of the month. The gate has a tower with bells, which were beaten once every 2 hours from 19:00 to 05:00. At dawn, the bell was rung one more time when the emperor arrived at the palace.

The western and eastern gates have the same structure and are located closer to the Meredian Gate, and not in the center of the western and eastern walls of the Forbidden City. The gate was optional, probably for emergencies.
Wall with nine dragons

Among the attractions of the Forbidden City, one can note the wall with the image of 9 dragons. The wall is 31 meters long and about 5 meters high.

The scene depicted on the wall is of yellow, blue, white and purple dragons playing with pearls against the background of the sea and clouds. The wall consists of 270 glazed tiles. The number 270 can be divided into 5 and 9. In ancient China, these numbers symbolized the supremacy of the emperor.

Carved stone slabs and decoration of the city

The dragons carved from stone on the slabs, on the sides of which there are stairs, are also impressive. Only dragons and clouds are carved on such slabs, which are a symbol of heavenly power.

The Forbidden City has many beautiful doorways and windows. Amazingly beautiful tiles decorate the walls of palaces and buildings. Over 1,000 gargoyles decorate the platforms of the outer courtyard. When it rains, water flows through the mouth of each gargoyle, which is also very spectacular.

In addition, admire the painted ceilings of the halls and palaces of the Forbidden City.

• Currently, the Forbidden City is open to everyone. Everyone can walk around the city, enjoy the amazing architecture, visit various exhibitions, admire the treasures that have survived to this day. However, you should carefully consider the time of the visit, because. in holidays, the number of visits can be reduced. best time visiting the Forbidden City is the period from the end of March to the beginning of June and the period from the end of August to the end of November. To avoid large crowds, choose a non-holiday or weekend day. I note that about 10 million people visit the Forbidden City every year.
• Until 2020, some areas of the city will be closed to tourists, because. ongoing overhaul. But most of city ​​will be available to everyone's attention.
• The Forbidden City has a very large territory, so you should plan your route in advance so that you have the strength to visit the most interesting places to the cities.
• It is better to take food with you, because. The Forbidden City is visited by a lot of tourists and it is likely that there will be no places in the cafes and eateries located on the territory of the city.

Outline of the Forbidden City

The Chinese capital, stands the Forbidden City, one of the most magnificent palace complexes in the world. It is a symbol of China's monarchical past. As planned by the creators, the Forbidden City should symbolize the order, unity and harmony of the universe and all of China. At one time, it was from here that the Chinese emperors ruled their state, sitting on the "Dragon Throne" in the Palace of Supreme Harmony.

The Forbidden City (Xijing Chen), which is officially called the Palace Museum, for 500 years (until the end of the imperial era in 1911) was the center of power in, the throne of the Son of Heaven and the personal residence of all emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This monumental complex, spread over an area of ​​74 hectares and numbering about 800 buildings, is difficult to capture with a glance, and its visit leaves an unforgettable impression.

History of the Forbidden City in Beijing

Beijing was established by the Yongglu Emperor of China, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. When he ascended the throne, he chose this city as the new capital of the empire and in 1404 ordered the restructuring to begin. There are many legends about how he chose Beijing. One of the legends says that when Yonglu became emperor, he was given a sealed envelope from an astrologer. When the emperor opened the envelope, he discovered that it contained detailed plans for the new city. Another legend tells that the plans of the city appeared in a dream to a Buddhist monk who was the emperor's teacher.

The Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing was cut off from the rest of the city by moats and purple-red walls. Only the emperor and his entourage had the right to be here, for mere mortals this part of Beijing was inaccessible. The Forbidden City was the center of the Chinese empire, and in the eyes of the Chinese themselves, the whole world. Here lived and ruled the country (until the fall of the empire in 1911) rulers from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Forbidden City is an architectural masterpiece, its charm lies not so much in the beauty of individual parts, but in the orderly layout of the entire complex.

The construction of the complex, which began in 1406, required the efforts of 200,000 workers. Construction began immediately after being finally expelled from Beijing. It is believed that the Forbidden City began to be built on the site of the former palace.

With great effort, palace buildings were built that corresponded to the greatness of imperial power. The earliest fully preserved buildings date back to the 18th century. The Forbidden City itself was built only in 1420. It was then that Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty moved his capital from Nanjing to Beijing.

In the palaces of the Forbidden City, there are only about 9,000 rooms in which the emperor and the women around him (mother, wives, concubines) used to live. The Forbidden City also had residential quarters for thousands of servants, eunuchs and concubines who spent their entire lives behind the walls. Life at court was subject to the strictest rules of etiquette. The Forbidden City was something like a cage where, fenced off from reality, the emperor lived with his entourage. The entire Forbidden City was dedicated to satisfying the whims of the emperor. About 6,000 cooks were busy preparing the food. 9,000 imperial concubines, who were guarded by 70 eunuchs, pleased and entertained the emperor.

The emperor and his entourage very rarely went outside the gates of the city, and each time this was accompanied by a magnificent and solemn ceremony. This is how one of the rare exits of the Chinese Emperor Ming outside the Forbidden City in Beijing looked like: 24 drummers went out first, followed by 24 trumpeters; after them came the soldiers of the guard - 100 armed guards and 100 soldiers with maces; four hundred people carried torches. Lancers, fans and government officials also took part in the solemn exit. Finally, a huge chariot pulled by an elephant passed by.

In 1644, when the Ming dynasty was overthrown by the Manchus, the city was sacked. But the Manchu rulers, who came to power under the name of the Qing dynasty, restored it to its former splendor. New temples and palaces were erected, ponds were dug, gardens of incredible beauty were planted.

In 1937, the Forbidden City was plundered by the Japanese, and in 1949, the nationalists took a lot of jewelry from Xijing Chen to.

Early wooden buildings were destroyed by frequent fires and repeatedly destroyed by brutal conquerors prone to looting. The structures of the Forbidden City have been restored and rebuilt many times, but the architects have always tried to preserve the original design and, most importantly, the impressive appearance.

Features of the structure of the forbidden city in Beijing

The territory of the Forbidden City is a square in plan. The city lies on the so-called Beijing axis (from north to south) and is surrounded by wide moats and walls 10.4 meters high. Behind them are palaces, gates, courtyards, streams and gardens symmetrically.

Chinese architects had to take care of more than just how the buildings looked and what materials should be used. They had to create such buildings that would be in harmony with nature and not disturb the spirits of earth, water and air. To achieve this, they followed a set of rules called feng xiu (feng shui). There were strict rules for the location of buildings, with an orientation to the north and south or west and east. Air-light patio gardens and ponds were also part of the elaborate scheme. The restructuring of Beijing on the orders of Emperor Yonglu took place in accordance with the rules of feng xiu. The Chinese believed that if a building was built according to these rules, it would ensure good health and well-being for the inhabitants.

The facades of all the main buildings face south. Thus, the Forbidden City turned its back on all the hostile forces of the north, on the cold ones from Siberia.

The Forbidden City is an architectural masterpiece, its charm lies not so much in the beauty of individual parts, but in the orderly layout of the entire complex:

• The Noon Gate is a powerful defensive tower built to protect the entrance to the Forbidden City. Here, at one time, the emperor inspected his troops. Now there is a ticket office where tickets for entering the complex are sold.
• The Gate of Supreme Harmony separates the outer court (Golden Stream) from the more formal inner court in the ceremonial area of ​​the Forbidden City.
• The Gate of Heavenly Purity marks the entrance to the inner sanctuary, the palace area of ​​the Forbidden City, where only members of the imperial family could enter.
• The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest of the official pavilions (28 m high). It was used for important state events, such as meetings with senior officials or the celebration of the emperor's birthday. In front of the entrance are two incense burners, one in the form of a stork, the other in the form of a dragon. The mosaic floor and gold-painted columns are endowed by artists with intertwining, carved dragons and surmounted by a green-golden ceiling from which hangs a spherical mirror.
• Palace of Heavenly Purity. Until the beginning of the XVIII century. the sleeping quarters of the emperors were located in this palace. The palace was lavishly decorated with carvings, stucco and sculptures of dragons and other mythical monsters. A huge throne was placed in the center of the palace. After about 1500, the Ming emperors settled in smaller palaces located in the park, and the Palace of Heavenly Purity became another hall for audiences with visitors.
• Hall of Perfect Harmony - an elegant hall (richly decorated, with a painted ceiling and beams), created for imperial banquets, served to dress the emperor before official ceremonies. Three staircases led to the hall, one of which had such a slope that it was possible to carry the emperor's palanquin along it. At the entrance, the roof rested on columns. The six central columns were gilded and decorated with dragon sculptures.
• The Hall of Conjunction is a small building, also known as the Hall of Fertility, and is decorated with a water clock, or clepsydra. Here the Empress gathered her "small" court.
• The Palace of Earthly Serenity during the Qinn Dynasty was the official residence of the empress, here was the bedroom of the imperial couple in the first days after the marriage.
• The Unification Hall is located between the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Palace of Earthly Peace. Symbolizes the unity of the emperor and empress, heaven and earth, "yang" and "yin", men and women. Behind the palaces are magnificent imperial gardens.
• The Imperial Gardens are located north of the Gate of Earthly Serenity and around the Hall of Imperial Prosperity. The area of ​​this garden, designed in classical Chinese style, is approximately 7,000 square meters. m. Impressive stone structures, ponds and plant decoration create an atmosphere of charm and tranquility. The gardens are lined with trees, decorated with statues, stone gardens, ponds and waterfalls. This peaceful oasis can be entered through the Gate of Earthly Peace.
• Fierce Beasts - Bronze lions sit on the sides of the Dragon's Entrance. Only through it you can get into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the emperor sat on the marble filigree Dragon Throne. The city abounds with bronze animals.

Images of dragons, the symbol of the emperor, are found on every corner of the Forbidden City. In other cultures, the dragon often symbolizes evil. But Chinese dragons are not like that: they breathe fire, and this symbolizes imperial power. However, the dragons were also "responsible" for the timely arrival of rains and, thus, protected China and its people from.

From the terraces of the large halls, marble dragons look at you. A road passes through the center of the city, on the marble surface of which dragons are also carved. This road used to be considered so sacred that only spirits could use it. The emperor was carried in a palanquin by servants who walked on either side of the sacred stones.

The buildings and gardens, intended for state ceremonies and the daily life of the imperial family, leave a very strong impression. Turning east, one finds libraries and museums (including a museum of works of art from various dynasties), as well as a number of palaces, pavilions and gardens.

The secrets that surrounded the emperor and his court 100 years ago are gradually disappearing. And yet in every courtyard and at every wall echoes of the past are heard. The imprints of antiquity lie on every object on display: on weapons, jewelry, imperial clothes, musical instruments and gifts brought to emperors by rulers from all over the world.

Forbidden City (Gugong Imperial Palace in Beijing)- the largest palace complex in the world. Conceived back in 1406, it has been closed to mere mortals for centuries (hence the name of the palace). From this place of the Middle Kingdom, 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties ruled. But even today, 75 years after the last Chinese emperor left the palace, it still remains forbidden, half of the city is still closed to curious tourists and surrounded by an aura of mystery. This Palace was the first of the Chinese sites listed by UNESCO. world heritage humanity (in 1987).

Gugong Imperial Palace was built in 1406-1420. Its total area is 720 thousand square meters. m; The palace complex has 9999 rooms. Surrounded by a wall 3400 m long and a moat called "Golden Water". A million builders and 100 thousand other specialists took part in its construction - stone carvers, wood carvers, artists, etc. The Gate of Heavenly Peace leads into it.

The gate has five doors - three in the center and two doors on the sides. The side doors were used by maintenance personnel and are now closed. Of the three central doors, the right one was used by officials, the left one by members of the imperial family, and only the emperor himself could pass through the central large door, but there were two exceptions.

The first exception was made only for the Empress and only once - on the wedding day. The second exception was made once every few years for the winners of the imperial examination. Tourists are advised to go through the central door. Feel like an emperor.

Tourists should pay attention to the rivets on the doors. In total, there are 9 rows of rivets and 9 columns (you can count it yourself in the photo in the gallery on the right). 9 is the emperor's lucky number, and you will meet him constantly in the Forbidden City.

The midday gate is stunning in its size - it is 35 meters high, which is equivalent to an 11-story building. At the top are 5 towers, which are called "phoenix towers". The whole structure really resembles this mythical bird.

The main bells and drums of Beijing were installed on the edges of the central tower. The bells rang every year, announcing the departure of the emperor to, the drums beat when the emperor left for the Temple of the Ancestors. At the most important ceremonies, bells and drums sounded simultaneously, announcing the coronation or wedding of the emperor.

The noon gate was a place of “communication” between power and the world. New laws were officially declared here, the emperor greeted subjects on holidays, hosted parades and looked at the punishments of guilty officials.

Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihimen) (2)

After the Noon Gate you will be taken to large area- The outer courtyard of the Forbidden City. There is a water channel “Internal Golden River”, through which five bridges have been built. The rules for passing through these bridges were completely similar to the rules for the doors in the Midday Gate.

This channel had several functions. The first is a source of water in case of fire, the second is a natural barrier for attackers in the event of an attack on the Forbidden City. Tourists should pay attention to the balustrades of bridges, decorated with figures of dragons and phoenixes - the symbols of the emperor.

Another interesting point on this square, which is worth paying attention to, are the bricks of the pavement. These bricks are made special technology, they make a nice ringing sound when stepped on. This property of covering the area has almost disappeared, but in some places this sound can still be heard.

The main attraction of the square is two giant bronze lions. The right lion holds a sphere under its paw, symbolizing the power of the emperor, which extends to the whole world. The left lioness holds a lion cub under her paw, symbolizing the prosperity and fertility of the imperial family. The Chinese believe that such lions protect the house from evil spirits and attract good ones. Naturally, these lions are the largest in China.

Behind the lions are the Gates of Supreme Harmony themselves. The name “gate” is a convention, in fact, it is a real pavilion. It was used in all cases when they did not want to let someone go further, but a meeting with the emperor was necessary. For example, receptions of foreign ambassadors or the imperial court.

Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taikhidian) (3)

Passing through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, you will enter the largest square in the Forbidden City - 30,000 square meters. Behind it rises the Hall of Supreme Harmony - the main building of the Forbidden City.

This is the "heart" of the Forbidden City. It was here that the emperor received officials and generals, and all the most important ceremonies and celebrations were held here. The hall is located on a marble base in three tiers. Two large staircases lead upstairs. In the center is a marble slab weighing 250 tons, which we have already talked about above, decorated with bas-reliefs with phoenixes and dragons.

The height of the building is 37.5 meters, and for a long time the Hall of Supreme Harmony was the tallest building in Beijing. It was forbidden by law to build buildings above it. When you look at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the thought does not even come to mind that this building is as high as a 12-story building.

The traditional architecture of China never aspired to gigantism. Harmony of size, form and content is the main goal of ancient Chinese architects. And, to be honest, they did it great.

Some sites on the Internet write that the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest wooden building in the world. Of course it isn't. The Odate Zhukai Dome stadium in Japan is 52 meters high and covers an area of ​​25,000 square meters. Compared to him, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is tiny.

Even in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, tourists will see a lot of interesting things. Pay attention to the huge vats for water - another fire safety measure. There is also the main sundial in the Forbidden City. Also here you can see very interesting stone columns, similar to lanterns, which served as a repository for standards of measures and weights.

Hall of Supreme Harmony 64 meters wide and 37.2 meters deep, area - 2381 square meter. The roof is supported by 72 columns - 6 rows of 9 pieces. Note that the number 9 is also used here - a symbol of imperial power.

Inside is the main imperial throne. It is called the Throne of Supreme Harmony. It can be difficult for tourists to see it, as it is dark inside. In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, more than four doors are rarely opened, and there is not enough light. The central door is opened very rarely, and the throne has to be viewed from an angle. In addition, at this angle, the throne is blocked by columns. In the photo on the right you can see how sad it looks.

There are a lot of people who want to see the throne, and to open doors still need to "break through". AT weekdays it is quite possible to do this, but on a day off it is an epic feat. Hence the conclusion: do not go to the Forbidden City on weekends and holidays. On weekends in Beijing, it is better to go to the markets or or walk along shopping malls district. Cultural attractions these days are always crowded with visitors.

In addition to the throne, inside you can see six gilded columns decorated with bas-reliefs with dragons. These columns can be seen a little better (see photo on the right). On the roof directly above the throne is a large golden dragon playing with a pearl. There is a legend that if someone usurps the throne, then this pearl will fall on him and crush him to death. This dragon is very difficult for tourists to see, and even more so to photograph.

Hall of Central Harmony (Jonghedian) (4)

It is a small building with a pyramid-shaped roof. This hall served for the emperor to rest and dress before ceremonies. There is also a throne inside, but much more modest than the Throne of Supreme Harmony. The hall was often used as a place for conversations between the emperor and close ministers and generals.

The inscriptions near the throne read: “The way of Heaven is deep and mysterious, and the way of mankind is difficult. Only if you draw up an accurate and unified plan and follow it, then you can rule the country well. These words were left here by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. He knew what he was talking about, because he ruled the country for 60 years.

Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian) (5)

This is the last building of the "outer palace" - the working part of the Forbidden City. After it, you will be taken to " inner palace” - the place of residence of the emperor and his family.

The Hall of Preserved Harmony had many functions. During the Qing Dynasty, it most often served as a banquet hall. During the Ming Dynasty, it served as a preparation place for the empress and princes for ceremonies.

In appearance, it is similar to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but smaller. There is also an imperial throne inside, and also smaller.

All these three halls stand on a single base of three tiers. If it rains during your visit to the Forbidden City, then you should not be upset right away. This is a good opportunity to see the amazing drainage system. Tourists notice stone dragon heads at the base, and it seems that this is just a decoration, but these are the outlets of pipes that bring water down. There are 1412 of these dragon heads in total.