The Forbidden City of Gugong is the largest and most famous palace complex in the world. It served as the residence of twenty-four powerful rulers of two dynasties - Ming and Qing. The place for its construction was determined by astronomers and, in their opinion, it is located exactly in the center of the globe.
Today, heading to the Forbidden City, you need to go through only three gates: Tiananmen, Duanmen and, finally, the main gate of the palace - Wumen. In former times, for foreign ambassadors and officials, the path to the palace was longer: they passed through five gates.
All the decoration and design of the Forbidden City is permeated with philosophical and religious ideas and principles of China, which say, among other things, that the emperor, despite all his greatness, must be fair and wise.
The construction of the Forbidden City began in 1406. The emperor who ordered its construction was Zhu Di.
There is a legend that one of the monks dreamed about the project of the Forbidden City, and he told the prince about it, who later became emperor.
The main material used for the construction of the palace is wood, as well as brick, marble, and tile. Almost all buildings inside the complex are one-story, and massive roofs rest on powerful columns, such a construction is most resistant to earthquakes. The facades of all the main buildings turned to the south - thus the Forbidden City turned its back on all the hostile forces of the north. The main entrance is also on the south side.
The Forbidden City is not just a pretty name, it is also a statement of fact. Ordinary people did not have access here. The family of the reigning emperor and their numerous servants lived in the closed palace. It was forbidden to enter the city without permission under pain of a slow and painful execution - although even this sometimes did not frighten the most curious.
At present, there is no longer a residence of the rulers in the Forbidden City, now it is the Gugong Imperial Museum, where anyone can get.
According to legend, there are ten thousand rooms in the palace of the Heavenly Emperor. The Palace of the Son of Heaven, as the emperors of China called themselves, should be at least a little more modest so as not to outshine the Heavenly Ruler. So it covers an area of .72 hectares, on which there are about eight hundred buildings and a total of 9.999 rooms. In fact, there are, of course, fewer of them - obviously, the love of the Chinese for the number nine just seemed here.
The city is surrounded by a high wall and a moat filled with water - the Jinshuihe Canal (Golden Water River).
Several bridges were thrown across the moat - the central two were intended only for members of the imperial family, the next - for the highest military and civil officials, and the extreme ones were called public and any inhabitant of the Forbidden City could pass through them, regardless of his rank and origin.
There are many beautiful and graceful buildings on the territory of the Forbidden City. Pavilions, gazebos, galleries, as well as lakes, rivers, gardens. And their names, as a rule, are in no way inferior to the elegance of their appearance - for example, the pavilion of the Contact of Heaven and Earth, the Gate of Heavenly Purity or the Gazebo, from where you can see the arrival of spring.
The Forbidden City was repeatedly rebuilt after fires, destruction and robberies. However, they tried to reproduce its appearance with maximum accuracy, so that what we see there now is not too different from the original appearance of the palace.
The main part of the exposition consists of paintings, books, bronze items, imperial clothes and jewelry.
Practical Tips:
The entrance to the Forbidden City is carried out from the central square - Tiananmen through a series of turnstiles and checkpoints. You can pass through several gates for free, in front of the entrance to the closed part of the museum there are ticket offices for buying tickets and renting audio guides. To purchase a ticket, you must present an official document with a photo. Very beautiful canals flow around the palace, along which it is pleasant to stroll in the summer heat. Do not be afraid to turn away from the main flow of tourists - you will not get lost, but you can find secluded places and nooks and crannies.
If you have the opportunity to visit the palace after the exposition closes, be sure to use it, because you will be lucky enough to enjoy the architecture on an almost deserted square, although you will not have much time at all (try to do it between 18-19 pm).
Today, heading to the Forbidden City, you need to go through only three gates: Tiananmen, Duanmen and, finally, the main gate of the palace - Wumen. In former times, for foreign ambassadors and officials, the path to the palace was longer: they passed through five gates.
All the decoration and design of the Forbidden City is permeated with philosophical and religious ideas and principles of China, which say, among other things, that the emperor, despite all his greatness, must be fair and wise.
The construction of the Forbidden City began in 1406. The emperor who ordered its construction was Zhu Di.
There is a legend that one of the monks dreamed about the project of the Forbidden City, and he told the prince about it, who later became emperor.
The main material used for the construction of the palace is wood, as well as brick, marble, and tile. Almost all buildings inside the complex are one-story, and massive roofs rest on powerful columns, such a construction is most resistant to earthquakes. The facades of all the main buildings turned to the south - thus the Forbidden City turned its back on all the hostile forces of the north. The main entrance is also on the south side.
The Forbidden City is not just a pretty name, it is also a statement of fact. Ordinary people did not have access here. The family of the reigning emperor and their numerous servants lived in the closed palace. It was forbidden to enter the city without permission under pain of a slow and painful execution - although even this sometimes did not frighten the most curious.
At present, there is no longer a residence of the rulers in the Forbidden City, now it is the Gugong Imperial Museum, where anyone can get.
According to legend, there are ten thousand rooms in the palace of the Heavenly Emperor. The Palace of the Son of Heaven, as the emperors of China called themselves, should be at least a little more modest so as not to outshine the Heavenly Ruler. So it covers an area of .72 hectares, on which there are about eight hundred buildings and a total of 9.999 rooms. In fact, there are, of course, fewer of them - obviously, the love of the Chinese for the number nine just seemed here.
The city is surrounded by a high wall and a moat filled with water - the Jinshuihe Canal (Golden Water River).
Several bridges were thrown across the moat - the central two were intended only for members of the imperial family, the next - for the highest military and civil officials, and the extreme ones were called public and any inhabitant of the Forbidden City could pass through them, regardless of his rank and origin.
There are many beautiful and graceful buildings on the territory of the Forbidden City. Pavilions, gazebos, galleries, as well as lakes, rivers, gardens. And their names, as a rule, are in no way inferior to the elegance of their appearance - for example, the pavilion of the Contact of Heaven and Earth, the Gate of Heavenly Purity or the Gazebo, from where you can see the arrival of spring.
The Forbidden City was repeatedly rebuilt after fires, destruction and robberies. However, they tried to reproduce its appearance with maximum accuracy, so that what we see there now is not too different from the original appearance of the palace.
The main part of the exposition consists of paintings, books, bronze items, imperial clothes and jewelry.
Practical Tips:
The entrance to the Forbidden City is carried out from the central square - Tiananmen through a series of turnstiles and checkpoints. You can pass through several gates for free, in front of the entrance to the closed part of the museum there are ticket offices for buying tickets and renting audio guides. To purchase a ticket, you must present an official document with a photo. Very beautiful canals flow around the palace, along which it is pleasant to stroll in the summer heat. Do not be afraid to turn away from the main flow of tourists - you will not get lost, but you can find secluded places and nooks and crannies.
If you have the opportunity to visit the palace after the exposition closes, be sure to use it, because you will be lucky enough to enjoy the architecture on an almost deserted square, although you will not have much time at all (try to do it between 18-19 pm).
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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