The Forbidden City

Palace Museum, Forbidden City, Beijing Municipality

The Palace Museum used to be the Imperial palace of the Ming and Ching dynasties. Commonly known as the Purple Forbidden City, Ming Emperor Yung Lo first constructed it in 1420 Alterations and reconstruction has been carried out on several occasions.

The Palace museum covers an area of 720,000 square meters, including buildings with a total floor space of 160,000 square meters. A wall 10 meters high surrounds it plus a moat 52 meters wide.

The Palace Museum can be divided into tow parts. The front part consists mainly of Tai Ho Tien (Hall of Supreme Harmony), Chung Ho Tien (Hall of Complete Harmony), where the Ming and Ching emperors held court and important ceremonies. The rear part consists of Chien Ching Kung (Palace of Heavenly Purity). Chiao Tai Tien ( Hall of Union), Kun Ning Kung (Palace of Earthly Tranquility), the six western and eastern palaces and the Imperial Garden, where the emperors had their offices and spent their leisure hours with their consorts and concubines.

During the KMT rule, the buildings were seriously damaged and relics stolen. The People's government has conducted repairs and renovations and turned the Palace into a museum open to all the people.