In the afternoon of September 19, 2004, we visited the Forbidden City, or Gugong, a 9000-room maze of courtyards, palaces, and ceremonial halls, where 24 emperors (“the Sons of Heaven”) and two dynasties ruled the Middle Kingdom. Protected by 30-foot high walls and a 160-foor-wide moat, the Forbidden City was indeed a forbidden place, where commoners were kept out for 500 years. The greatest achievement of the visionary Emperor Yongle, this architectural triumph was completed in a mere 14 years by 200,000 workers. Behind its Gate of Supreme Harmony flanked by bronze lions, are classic buildings with stunning interiors featuring marble floors and ceilings with grand murals. Most remarkable of all is the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the tallest and largest of the six main palace buildings, with the emperor’s Dragon Throne.

The Forbidden City, now called the Palace Museum, is located in the center of Beijing. Extending 750 meters from east to west and 960 meters from north to south, the 720,000-square meter city is the largest palatial complex in the world. It served as the seat of imperial power during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

The Forbidden City

The Watch Tower of the Imperial City

Gate of Supreme Harmony

Interior room in the Hall of Supreme Harmony

Eastern Chamber of Warmth in the Kunning Palace

The Pavillion of Eternal Spring in the Imperial Garden

jojo and Ginger by a Guardian Lion

Ginger by a bronze water vat

My next post will be on the Great Wall of China.