The Forbidden City / Chinese, English, French, Japanese, German

Author: Wu Xianlin et al. (Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1420-1911). In 1925, it was renamed the Palace Museum, and it has a history of 580 years. It still largely retains the layout of the early Ming Dynasty, making it the most complete ancient palace architectural complex remaining in China. The architecture of the Forbidden City primarily uses wooden structures. The towering pavilions and buildings are supported by white marble foundations and topped with yellow glazed tiles. The roofs are curved with upturned eaves and flying ridges, resembling the wings of a mythical giant bird, stretching along the north-south central axis. The layout is straight north-south and symmetrical east-west, exuding a majestic and solemn atmosphere. The Forbidden City is divided into two main parts: the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The Outer Court is centered around the Three Great Halls (Taihe, Zhonghe, and Baohe), with the Wenhua and Wuying halls serving as its left and right wings, serving as the hub of imperial power. Despite undergoing more than 500 years of changes and dynastic shifts, the Forbidden City's rich cultural collections and rare artifacts have become a treasured heritage of the Chinese people and a cultural legacy of humanity. The ancient architectural art of the Forbidden City is admired by people around the world. We have deliberately selected over 100 photos following the tour route to compile this album, serving as a guide and precious souvenir for visitors from China and abroad when they visit the Forbidden City.