One of the most fascinating must-see attractions in Beijing is the Forbidden City. Your day will be filled with palatial beauty and, on the whole, a valuable cultural experience. The palace oozes Chinese culture at its best. So book your Beijing Flights with Air China right away, to see the interesting sites this city has to offer.
In a nutshell, the Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty, which was completed in 1420, to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1912). The palace is centrally located in the heart of Beijing’s cultural hub, with Tiananmen Square right next door. The Palace has of course, now, turned into a museum. It served as the home of the Emperor and his household for roughly five centuries. The second purpose of the Palace, in ancient times, was as a ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. The palace appeals to a wide range of interests, culture, art, religion, architecture, politics and history. Therefore no one can come back from a visit and claim they did not have an enjoyable time.
The Palace was built between 1402 and 1420 and consists of 920 buildings, which covers an area of just under 8 million square feet. So there are hours of walking involved in a visit to the Palace, thus wearing appropriate footwear is heavily advised. Being the oldest surviving palace complex in the world, the site has an interesting historical background, which can be thoroughly explained to you at the museum. It might not be a bad idea to hire an English-speaking tour guide upon your arrival at the Palace. Essentially, Forbidden City is divided into two parts, the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The Outer court consists of the southern sections of the palace and was used for ceremonial purposes in the dynastic era. The Outer Court was the residence of the Emperor and his family, and was also used for governmental affairs. Within these two areas, there are hundreds of buildings and halls worth having a look at.
As noted earlier, if you are in to the arts, the Forbidden City will captivate your interest. The imperial collections range from paintings to ceramics. Most of the ceramics are still kept in pristine condition (below left), even though some are a thousand years old. The palace holds about 50,000 paintings, some of which date back to the 13th Century. As for architecture, the palace seems to have remained the same since it was built. You have never seen anything this well maintained, another attribute to admire.
If you want to tick two sites of your list in one day, Tiananmen Square is just outside the entrance to the Forbidden City, located between two ancient and massive gates: Tiananmen and Qianmen Gates. Along the west side of the square is the Great Hall of People, which is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the Peoples’ Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. The Great Hall of People is China’s parliament building. Along the East side of the square houses the National Museum of China. The square holds the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, where you can see the remains of the Chairman himself.
The Forbidden City is located near two subway stations: Tiananmen East of Tiananmen West (Line 1). The price of a ticket to enter the city is 60RMB, but if you are a student, don’t forget to bring your student card and get a discounted price of 20RMB. To witness this unique piece of Chinese history and culture, Travel to Beijing and have an experience of a lifetime. The Palace is a symbol of Chinese culture and prestige.
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