The Palace Museum, located in the heart of Beijing, is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a key cultural heritage site, a base for patriotic education, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built upon the foundations of the Ming and Qing Dynasties’ imperial palaces and their collections, making it a comprehensive museum of Chinese culture.
The Palace Museum is situated at the center of Beijing, with the iconic Tiananmen Gate to the front, the picturesque Jingshan Hill behind, Wangfujing street to the east, and Zhongnanhai to the west. In 1961, the State Council designated the Palace Museum as one of the first batch of key national cultural heritage sites. In 1987, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The name “Forbidden City” (紫禁城) comes from ancient Chinese star astrology, where the Polaris, located at the center of the sky, was believed to be the Emperor’s residence, symbolizing the heavenly order. The third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di, decided to move the capital to Beijing after seizing the throne. Construction of the Forbidden City began and was completed in 1420, during the reign of Emperor Yongle. It served as the residence and administrative center for 24 emperors over a period of more than 500 years, from the Ming Dynasty through to the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. After the Xinhai Revolution, the last emperor, Puyi, was expelled in 1924, marking the end of imperial rule.
The Forbidden City is surrounded by a 10-meter-high city wall and a 52-meter-wide moat. It spans 961 meters from north to south and 753 meters from east to west, covering an area of 780,000 square meters. There are four main gates, with the southern Meridian Gate and the northern Shennwu Gate used for visitors. The architectural layout of the palace follows the central axis, and the buildings are characterized by red walls, yellow tiles, painted beams, and golden decorations, creating a magnificent and majestic atmosphere. The southern half of the palace contains the three major halls—Taihe, Zhonghe, and Baohe—used for imperial ceremonies and court meetings, while the northern half houses the living quarters of the emperor and his consorts, including the Qianqing Palace, Jiaotai Palace, and Kunning Palace.
In 1925, after the establishment of the Palace Museum, the first exhibition opened to the public, attracting thousands of visitors eager to see the treasures and architecture. Since then, the museum has been dedicated to preserving and showcasing the cultural and historical heritage of China. Its collection includes over 1.17 million pieces, including ancient bronze vessels, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, jade, and imperial garments.
During the Japanese invasion in the 1930s, the museum’s treasures were relocated to Nanjing, Shanghai, and later Sichuan to protect them from destruction or theft. After the end of the war, the artifacts were gradually returned to Beijing. In the 1950s, the museum began large-scale renovations to restore its buildings and establish modern conservation methods to protect its priceless collections. Since then, it has continued to develop, opening new exhibition halls, organizing international exhibitions, and publishing extensive catalogs to share Chinese history and culture with the world.
Today, the Palace Museum is one of the most visited cultural institutions globally, welcoming millions of visitors annually. Through its exhibitions, publications, and collaborations with international museums, it plays a crucial role in promoting Chinese heritage worldwide.
Phoenix Lee https://chinese-tradition.com/explore-the-forbidden-city-a-treasure-of-chinese-history.html