Forbidden city of china

Forbidden city of china
Enigmatic, awe-inspiring, puzzling, magnificent, fascinating...adjectives run short when describing the Forbidden City, a place of cultural pride for the Oriental World. Tour to the Forbidden City or the Palace Museum, the official name, is a trip of lifetime, an unforgettable experience.
Why to Visit
Largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures on the planet.
One of the most popular tourist attraction in the world.
Masterpiece of Chinese architecture- majestic style, flawless construction, fine coordination.
Two lakh men worked for fourteen years. The result was the Forbidden City.
It receives over 10 million visitors each year (foreign and domestic).

Fine Points
Ranked fifteenth in world wonder list by Hillman Wonders.
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.
Massive palace complex comprising more than nine thousand rooms and spread over 250 acres.
The image of Tiananmen, the entrance to the Imperial City, appears on the seal of the People's Republic of China.
Museum of Chinese antiques and treasures.


Tour Attractions
Plethora of majestic structures sit in the magnificent Forbidden City. Most prominent among them are:

Halls
Hall for Ancestry Worship(Fengxiandian)
Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (Jiaotaidian)
Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian)
Hall of Joyful Longevity(Leshoutang)
Hall of Mental Cultivation(Yangxindian)
Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian)
Hall of Supreme Harmony(Taihedian)
Gates
Tiananmen Gate
Gate of Celestial Purity(Qianqingmen)
Meridian Gate
Gate of Divine Military Genius
East Flowery Gate
West Flowery Gate

Palaces
Palace of Celestial Purity(Qianqinggong)
Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility(Kunninggong)
Palace of Tranquil Longevity(Ningshougong)
Six Eastern Palaces(Dongliugong)
Six Western Palaces(Xiliugong)

Other Structures
Huge Stone Carving
Imperial Garden(Yuhuayuan)
Nine Dragons Screen

Imperial Gardens
12,000 square metre Imperial Garden, which lies at the northern end of the Forbidden City, was used by the members of the imperial household to relax. A labyrinth of old trees and pavilions, the garden footpaths, made from small stones, are paved with mosaic patterns. made from small stones.

The Forbidden City is encircled by some more picturesque gardens. Zhongnanhai Park, the complex of buildings centred on two lakes is located towards west. To the north-west sits Beihai Park, which also centres on a lake. To the north lies Jingshan Park, also known as Jing Shan or Coal Hill.

Why A Forbidden City
The Forbidden City gained this mysterious title because entry was banned without imperial permission. The offender had to part with his life.

Interesting Facts
Once the number of rooms in the Forbidden City was 9,999. The Chinese considered 9 a lucky number.
Ringed by a 10 meter (33 foot) high protective wall. The defense was strengthened by a moat as wide as a river.
The Forbidden City occupies 720,000 square metres of land, which is equivalent to twenty plus football fields.
The colossal complex was home of some six thousand people, including the imperial family.
Puyi, the last resident emperor of the Forbidden City, was permanently evicted in 1924. He was depicted in Bertolucci's 1987 epic movie 'The Last Emperor'.
The British are the only power who succeeded in capturing the Forbidden City. They did so during the Second Anglo-Chinese Opium War, in 1860.
The earth excavated during the construction of the moat was piled up at a single place. The result was Jingshan Hill, an artificial hill.