Highlights:
The Forbidden City, also called gugong in Chinese and situated exactly in the heart of the municipality was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is the most magnificent and splendid palace complex in China and one of the five world-famous palaces with the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in England, the White House in the U.S. and the Kremlin in Russia.
Brief Introduction
The palace, the most magnificent and splendid palace complex in China, was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Building in 1987. It was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the construction of this group of buildings took fourteen years from 1406 to 1420. In the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was the imperial palace where twenty-four emperors ascended the throne and exercised their strong power to the nation. In the ancient time, the emperor claimed to be the son of the heaven and therefore their supreme power was conferred upon them from the heaven. Their residence on the earth was built as a replica of the Purple Palace where the God lived in the Heaven. Such divine place was certain forbidden for the ordinary people and it is why the Forbidden City is so called.
The palace has two primary parts: the Outer Court and the Inner Court. Some halls are converted into art galleries to exhibit paintings, clocks, bronze wares, pottery and other invaluable treasures. It is said that there are over 1,000,000 articles in this museum that account for one-sixth of such national treasures. Tourists can enter into the palace from the Wu Men (Meridian Gate) or the Shenwu Men (Gate of Divine Might). It is impossible for visitors to see every corner of the palace in a single day.
Since yellow is the symbol of the royal family, it is the dominant color in the Forbidden City. Roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles; decorations in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow by a special process. However, there is one exception. Wenyuange, the royal library, has a black roof. The reason is that it was believed black represented water then and could extinguish fire.
Nowadays, the Forbidden City, or the Palace Museum is open to tourists from home and abroad. Splendid painted decoration on these royal architectural wonders, the grand and deluxe halls, with their surprisingly magnificent treasures will certainly satisfy 'modern civilians'.
Transpotation to Forbidden City
Bus Route: No. 124, 810, 812, 814, 846, 855 (Night Bus: No. 202 and 211)
No. 101, 103 and 109 (Trolleybus)
No.1, 4, 20, 52 (get off at East Tian'anmen Bus Stop)
Subway: Line 1 for Tian’anmen Stop
Tax: Starting Price is 10 RMB in the day, 11 RBM in the night.
Featured Photoes
Recommended Travel Agencies:
Tour Beijing Travel Service
Headquarter:
Room 2001(20th Floor), Building No.01 of Linghangguoji, Nanxiaojie, Guangqumen, Chongwen District, Beijing, China 100061.
Tel: 86- 10-67160201
China Highlights
Headquarter:
China Highlights/ CITS Guilin,No.11 Binjiang Road, Guilin, GX541002, China
Tel: 800-2682918( Toll Free in USA)
800-8793-007( Toll Free in China)
China International travel service
Location:
China International Travel Service Guilin, 11 Binjiang Road, Guilin P.R. China, 541002
Tel: (86)773-2848195
Travelchinaguide:
Headquarter:
Suite 508, Yu Yuan Mansion, No.65 Nan Er Huan Xi Duan, Xian, P.R.C. 7100068.
Tel: (86)-29-852368-688
Toll Free:1-800-892-6988(USA&Canada)
+800-666-88666(Universal except USA)
800-840-9555(China Mainland)
