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Photo: Palace Museum (Forbidden City) in
Beijing, China
The Palace Museum, formerly known as the Forbidden City
because it was off limits for 500 years, is the
place where
24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties
resided. Situated in the center of the central
axial line of Beijing, the Palace Museum was
first constructed in 1406 by Emperor Yongle in
the reign period of the Ming Dynasty and was
only completed fourteen years later. Covering an
area of 720,000 sq km, it is the most well
preserved palace in the world. It has more than
9,000 halls and rooms, and contains a large
number of valuable cultural relics. The entrance
to the Palace Museum proper is the Wumen which
is full of guides waiting for foreign visitors
but rental of a cassette tape for a self guided
tour is available. The outer palace consists of
the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central
Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. All
the grand ceremonies such as the accession of a
new emperor to the throne, the adoption of a new
title of a reign, going on an expedition, the
emperor's birthday and wedding, and the
celebration of Spring Festival were held in the
Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The inner palace
consists of the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the
Hall of Union and the Hall of Earthly
Tranquility and the inner palace is also the
place where the emperor and the empress resided
and handled daily affairs. Six other palaces
which are located in the eastern and western
section together with the Imperial Garden is
where the imperial consorts lived.
 The Palace Museum is
the largest palace in the world and one of
mankind's major cultural legacies and it was
only opened to public in 1925. It is
classified under the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site
List.
Opening times:
8.30am to 4.00pm (May - September) and 8.30am to
3.30pm (October - April)
Admission: 40
yuan (the last admission tickets sold 30 minutes
before closing)
Photo: Aerial
view of Palace Museum
Transport:
Tourists can go to the Palace Museum by public
bus Nos. 1, 4, 20, 52 and 57 and get off at
Tiananmen bus stop. After going through the
Tiananmen Gate-tower and Duanmen, you will see
the Meridian Gate (the front gate) of the Palace
Museum.
Visitors may also
get on trolley bus Nos. 101, 103 and 109 and get
off at the Palace Museum bus stop whereby
tourists will be able to see the rear gate of
the Palace Museum - Gate of the Military Powers.
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