Imperial Palace Garden

Author: Hu Yunhuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: This book takes you on a tour of some of the world's most famous palaces, from the Forbidden City in the East to the Palace of Versailles in the West, as well as the few surviving medieval Islamic palaces. Here you will find grand halls, magnificent gardens, exquisite furniture, and countless invaluable works of art. Each palace is a treasure trove built with immense wealth and the dedication of artists. Palaces are symbols of royal power, embodying the will of the monarchs, serving as the central hub of the nation. Kangxi, Qianlong, Louis XIV, Peter the Great, Frederick the Great, and Napoleon all made their appearances, showing how these renowned rulers from home and abroad handled state affairs, received ambassadors, and hosted grand banquets within the palace walls. You will also see them as ordinary humans, experiencing illness, aging, disappointment, and death. The imperial gardens were also the places where the king and queen lived, rested, and enjoyed leisure. The wedding ceremony of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the 50th birthday celebration of Empress Dowager Cixi—all the scenes remain as they once were. Visiting the palaces not only reveals the golden and splendid palaces and the blossoming imperial gardens but also shows the rise and fall of empires, the intrigues within the palace, and the joys and sorrows of the emperors and empresses.