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The Forbidden City at a Glance

By Chenying Jia

The Forbidden City, called “Gugong” in Chinese and also known as Palace Museum, which means untouchable to common people, located in the center of Beijing, was the base of 24 emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties for nearly 500 years. Puyi who abdicated in 1911 was the last emperor of the Qing dynasty and China as well.

The Forbidden City was first built in 1406— the fourth year of the Ming emperor Yongle’s reign and was widened by the following emperors. By now, it covers an area of 72 hectares, runs 960 meter long from north to south and 750 meter wide extended from east to west. It is surrounded by 10-meter high wall and a 52-meter wide moat on all four sides and consists of hundreds of halls and courtyards. The walls are pierced by four large gates, each with three openings and a broad crowning pavilion.

The Forbidden City includes two parts — the Outer Courtyard and the Inner Courtyard. This magnificent architectural complex has more than 9,000 rooms in all. The Outer Court includes the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. The Inner court includes the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, the Hall of Earthly Peace and the Imperial Garden. Between the Meridian Gate and the Gate of Supreme Harmony, there is a square when an important ceremonies presided over by the emperor, guards of honor lined up on the square between the Meridian Gate and the Gate of Supreme Harmony. The hall of Supreme Harmony , which is 35 meter high, 60 meter wide and 33 meter on both sides, is a place where important ceremonies like the enthronement of the crown prince, the emperor’s birthday celebrations, and the initiation of military expeditions were held.

The layout of the Forbidden City is on the basis of a Chinese original cosmos concept of the universe that clearly defines the north-south and east-west axes. The buildings embody the largest and best-preserved examples of Chinese traditional architecture foundation today. The overall layout is centered on the three primal Halls of State: Taihedian Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhonghedian Hall of Central Harmony and Baohedian Hall of Preserving Harmony. State ceremonies were held in the Outer Court (Wai Chao) of the Forbidden City.

Today, it has become one of the most important tourist site in Beijing.

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