Beijing, The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is the Chinese imperial palace that was used from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Located in the middle of Beijing it was the home to 24 emperors spanning 500 years from 1420 to 1924. It dwarfs Tian'an Men Square in size covering 161 football fields. It consists of 980 buildings and has over 8700 rooms.

I ancient times the emperor was said to be a son of the Heaven and Heavens supreme power was bestowed upon him. The emperor's residence on earth was a replica of the palace where God was thought to live in heaven. Being a divine place, ordinary people were forbidden to enter the palace and that is way it was called The Forbidden City. 

We entered through Tian'an Men Gate to the outer court which consists of 3 immense ceremonial halls. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, this was a resting place for the emperor before presiding over grand events held in the second hall, the Hall of Central Harmony and the third hall, the Hall of Preserving Harmony was used for banquets. The only reason I am telling you this is to get an idea of the size The Forbidden City.

Toward the back of the Forbidden City is the inner court, a series of smaller buildings and gardens that served as living quarters. Only the emperor, his family, his concubines and the palace eunuchs (who numbered 1500) were allowed in this section. The main buildings in this area are the Palace of Heavenly Peace, the emperors living quarters. Behind it is the Palace of Union and Peace, the throne of the empress and used to house the jade seals of imperial authority. And the Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility, the living quarters of the empresses. Besides that there were six eastern palaces and six western palaces which were used to handle everyday affairs.  At the rear of the inner court is the Imperial Garden.

a view of Tian'an Men Square 

Tain'an Men Gate, the first gate leading into the Forbidden City

the court yard before the outer court, this is the Meridian Gate which is the entrance onto the Forbidden City

groups from the countryside waiting to entry The Forbidden City

posing for a picture

waiting to entry

the outer court yard, the Gate of Supreme Harmony

the next outer courtyard, the Hall of Supreme Harmony 

close up of the Hall of Supreme Harmony

a cauldron, years ago filled with water and used to put out fires  

the Hall of Central Harmony 

the Hall Preserving Harmony

Margot and tiled wall leading into the Inner Courtyard

entrance leading into the living quarters