Forbidden City enclosed on 3.5 km of walls of a citadel in the heart of Beijing, listed to UNESCO - the biggest and is the is best of all the saved collection of China of ancient buildings - rather big conveniently to absorb these 16 million visitors whom it accepts every year. Shipped in data on there is no ritual, this otherworldly palace was the solitary house to two dynasties of imperial board, dividing 900 - plus buildings with suite of eunuchs, servants and mistresses until the republic overthrew the last emperor Qing in 1911.

2020 celebrates the 600th anniversary of Forbidden City which the palace intends to celebrate, guaranteeing that more complex is opened for visitors, than in any other time in its stories as a tourist attraction. Which is more long story, than you could think - the Museum of the Palace (故宫博物馆, Gùgōng Bówùguǎn) as Forbidden City officially call, at first open in 1925, only one year later after Puy, the left 'last emperor', was moved from Internal Court.

Constructed between 1406 and 1420 by Minh Yonglom's emperor, construction of Forbidden City was the enormous obligation, employing battalions of unskilled workers and handicraftsmen. Columns of precious nanmu of a tree were used from the jungle of southwest China to the capital while blocks of the got stone were towed to the palace in the winter on inventive ice roads. After constructed, Forbidden City operated the code of data on there are no rules, the protocol and superstition; 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties operated China from it closed - from the world, often randomly and accidentally until revolution captured all of them far only a century ago. Despite its age, the majority of buildings which you see post-18th-century construction of the Qing dynasty and repair is - fire was constant danger, therefore huge copper water tubs everywhere.

Planning of your visit

Though you can investigate Forbidden City in several hours, the whole day will save you occupied, and the enthusiast will make several trips. Most of visitors focuses the energy on a striking example ceremonial halls and parade-grounds which lift the central axis in external court (southern half) of a complex. But real thrills arrive from a research of a labyrinth of the courtyards and halls located in more human scale, on both sides from the central axis, and from a shestvovaniye along tops of 10m-high walls for views from palace air.

Entrance to Forbidden City

In imperial times the punishment for uninvited admission was severe though mere mortals won't even be near; the imperial City of girdled Forbidden City with one more set of huge walls cut through with four to a large extent careful exits - including Vratu of Heavenly Tranquility on whom hangs up Mao's portrait. These days the tourists enter through the Meridian Exit, the large U-shaped portal in South side of the complex which is once reserved for only one emperor. Gongs and bells would seem imperial arrivals and movements while smaller mortal used smaller exits: armed forces civilians East gate and servants used the western exit, a northern exit. The emperor also considered the armies from the Meridian Exit, condemned prisoners, announced the New Year's calendar and watched corporal punishment of unpleasant ministers.

You pass through the Meridian Exit to the extensive courtyard and you cross the Gold Stream (金水, Jīn Shuǐ) - created to remind the Tatar onion and the courtyard filled with five Marble Bridges - on your way to a magnificent Exit of the Highest Harmony, out of which could hold imperial audience of 100.000 people.

Installation of a wall

Since 2018 the visitors can rise by Forbidden City Wall just inside and by the Meridian Exit East, follow it in east direction in the Angular Tower and then the North in East Exit of Prosperity. This route includes Gallery of Historical Architecture with exhibition spaces in the Angular Tower and magnificent East Exit of Prosperity. Everything, approximately it is possible to rise by three quarters of a 3.4-kilometer wall wall now, a great way to leave crowds and to take tremendous pictures.

The first side galleries

Before you pass through the Exit of the Highest Harmony to reach star sights of Forbidden City, designate changes of the direction on the West of the huge courtyard to visit the Hall of Military Valour where emperors would accept ministers. It provides to the changing turn the dwelling of exhibitions. Only on the South Furniture gallery, occupying the area known as the southern Warehouses which opened for the first time in 2018.

The hall of the Literary complex of Gloss on the Meridian Exit East was used as the residence by the crown prince earlier. It was restored in 1683, being the destroyed fire. It also accepts the changing turn of exhibitions within a year, but is sometimes closed between November and March.

Three Main halls

Lifted on the marble terrace with three rows representing the Chinese symbol for the king (王; wáng), these Three Main halls (三大殿; Sān Dàdiàn), magnificent heart of Forbidden City. The pavilion of the Highest harmony - the most important and biggest structure in Forbidden City also was the highest building in the capital once. It was used for official ceremonies, such as birthday of the emperor, crowning and purpose of military leaders. In the pavilion of the Highest harmony richly decorated Dragon Throne (龙椅; Lóngyǐ) from which the emperor would exercise control over the shivering officials. All court had to touch the floor nine times by their foreheads (the custom known as flattering) in the presence of the emperor. Behind a throne the cut-out Xumishan, Buddhist paradise, showing superiority of a throne. Today you can only consider it from outer side, and it practically demands that the crowd of rugby made so.

Behind the pavilion of the Highest harmony the Hall of the Central Harmony which was used as the hall of transients of the emperor. Here he would make preparations in the last minute, would rehearse speeches and would accept ministers. Shown two sedanchairs of the Qing dynasty, the type of transport of the emperor around Forbidden City. The last from Qing's emperors, Puiya, used the bicycle and changed some features of the territory of the palace to help to move.

The third of the Main halls is the Hall of Maintaining the Harmony used for banquets later for imperial examinations. In the hall there are no support columns, and to its back part the 250-ton marble imperial carriageway which is cut out with dragons and clouds; it was towed to the city on the inventive way of ice - they had to wait till winter to make so. The peripheral buildings surrounding these Three Main halls were used for storage of gold, silver, silks, carpets and other treasures and now exhibitions of house museum.

Smaller central halls

The basic configuration of these Three Main halls is reflected by the following group of the buildings reached through the Exit of Heavenly Purity. Traditionally, this exit was the dividing line between ceremonial external court and internal court on the North where emperors and their accompanying persons actually lived and worked. Smaller on the scales, these buildings were more important in terms of the valid power which traditionally is in China at a rear entrance.

The first structure - the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the residence of Minh and early emperors of Qing and after the hall of audience for reception of foreign representatives and high-ranking officials.

Immediately behind it the Hall of the Union which contains the water-clock - the water-clock made in 1745 with five bronze vessels and the calibrated scale. You will also find the mechanical clock constructed in 1797 and a collection of the seals of a jasper shown. The palace of Terrestrial Tranquility was wedding chamber of imperial couple and the center of operations for a palace harem.

Imperial Garden

In the northern end of Forbidden City Imperial Garden, the Classical Chinese garden from 7000 sq.m of fine gardening, including rock-gardens, passes, pavilions and ancient, carbuncular cypresses. In its center dvoynoy-eaved Hall of the Imperial World. Nearby, the Lodge of Spiritual Cultivation - where the British mentor sir Reginald Johnston gave the English lessons to the left 'last emperor' of Puyi.

Gallery of a treasure

At northeast edge of a complex what to feel mini-Forbidden City all own is similar. It is the Palace of Quiet Durability (宁寿宫; Níng Shòu Gōng), constructed approximately in 1771 for pension of the emperor Qing Kienglongga though it never came nearer. Today it keeps Treasure gallery, one of the most important collections of the palace of decorative objects which are processed from gold, silver, nephrite, emeralds, pearls, and other treasures and semiprecious stones.

The complex is entered from the South - near unforgettable Gallery of Hours. Only in an entrance, you will find the glazed beautiful Nine Screens of the Dragon, simulated after that in the Beihai Park park.

From there you work the way for the North, exploring various halls and courtyards before leaving in the northern end of Forbidden City. In way look for the Pavilion of Cheerful Melodies, the three-storyed wooden opera which was the largest theater of the palace. Pay attention to hatches which allowed actors to do drama entrances to a stage.

Western and East Palaces

Dozen of smaller courtyards of the palace lie to the West and the East of three smaller central halls. It was in this certain housing as much greater versions of sìhéyuàn of mansions of Beijing in the hutena where actually there lived most of emperors and empresses. Many buildings, especially those which on the West, are decorated in imperial furniture.

Other sights

Parts of the palace which were earlier inaccessible open all the time. The due West of the Exit of Heavenly Purity - a collection of halls and gardens where empresses and mistresses of the died emperors lived. Known as the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, it was used for storage within many decades after 1925 and today is placed to Sculpture gallery which includes statues of Buddha, terracotta soldiers, a graceful stone relief more, with even the Conflicting period of the states.

On the South the Garden of Compassion and Tranquility where widows of the empress and imperial spouses worshipped Buddha, entertained themselves and have a rest. On the West the Palace of Durability and the health constructed for mother of the emperor Kienlonga.