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Beijing's Forbidden City

I simply adore Beijing's Forbidden City. I have been to Beijing four times but have been to the Forbidden City over fifty times. I love it more than I could possibly describe. A lot of people who come to the Forbidden City take the four hour tour and find it boring. They think it is building followed by a courtyard followed by another building and another courtyard, and in a way it is, but it is the history of these buildings and courtyards and their functions that are truly amazing. Sadly, most guides are not knowledgeable enough to go into much detail. The Forbidden City is a palace that was under constant construction for 500 years. It was a living entity and everything in it was done with great ceremony. Every corner is steeped in history and if visitors could know this history and The Forbidden City's stories they would find it much more interesting. I think that people who are planning on going to The Forbidden City should read up on it a bit first before coming to China.


When I visit the Forbidden City I always have a plan as to what part I want to visit on a particular day. I always enter at the north gate because it rarely has many visitors. When the gates open I then rush to whatever part I want to visit for the day. This allows me to get spectacular photos without hundreds of heads blocking the shot. Most people head straight for the throne rooms, so if you want to get really wonderful photos go to the Inner Court area in the north of the Forbidden City. It usually takes visitors about an hour to make it that far in.

It really helps that I know every building, its history and stories. Many people get bored looking at the many seemingly identical buildings. If visitors take the time to really look at the buildings, beyond their golden roofs and red walls, they will see there is little similarity between each one. Every roof design is different, the design features are each different, and the functionality of each room is different. Some are meant to be imposing and regal, and some are intimate and meant to give the feeling of warmth, and some are meant to simply show the extravegance that the Son of Heaven demanded.


I have taken almost ten thousand photos. I know my photos are not the normal panoramic shots of buildings, but are instead photos of details. Small parts of the whole which make up this grand palace. I hope that if you ever get the chance to visit the Forbidden City that you take the time to actually observe the marvels around you.

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Photos

Corner Guardtower
I know everybody takes this shot, so I didn't want to be the only one who didn't have a copy.

Northern gate to the Imperial Garden
The last time I was there, this gate was not open and had a huge map hung on it. I was happy to be able to walk through it for the first time. I know, I'm easily amused.

Forbidden City's Eastern Road
This is the Eastern Road of the Forbidden City. It runs the length of the Inner Court.

The Gate of Mental Cultivation
This is the gate leading to the private living quarters of the Emperor.

Water Vat
This is a water vat in the courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. These bronze vats are located throughout the Forbidden City and were kept full of water for fire fighting. In the winter a fire was kept going underneath them to keep them from freezing.

Glazed tile entrance
This is one entrance to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. There is a pair of them.

A chair in the Hall of Mental Cultivation
This chair is located inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. It was not to meet officials, just a place for the Emperor to sit and relax.

Hall of Three Treasures
This is the room where Emperor Qianlong kept his three most prized posessions, three ancient calligraphic works. It has been discovered that two are forgeries and only one was the original.

Kang in the Hall of Three Treasures
The Hall of Three Treasures is a very small room. It was made primarily for Emperor Qianlong to sit and enjoy his three calligraphic treasures. Oh, a Kang is a heated bed or chair traditionally used in the north of China.

Row of gates
Gate upon gate upon gate. There are four gates shown in this shot. Losing your keys would be murder here.

Courtyard of the Hall of Great Supremacy
This was home to Imperial Concubines during the Qing Dynasty.

A screen in the Hall of Great Supremacy
This is a screen in the courtyard of the hall.

A throne in the Hall of Great Supremacy
This is one of the multitude of thrones found in the Forbidden City.

Ceiling detail in the Hall of Great Supremacy
Five bats painted on the ceiling. It is odd because bats normally come in sets of 8 in traditional Chinese art.

Palace of Eternal Spring
The building in the background is the Pavilion of the Rain of Flowers. I'm dying to be able to see it. It is incredible and still filled with untouched treasures. It has never been open to the public and probably never will.

The Palace of Eternal Spring
I believe this is the interior of the Palace of Eternal Spring.

Palace of Eternal Spring
The large item in the center of the room is a brazier and the metal cover kept sparks from flying out and starting fires.

Imperial Wedding Chamber
This is the wedding chamber of the Emperors. It is still decorated from the wedding of Emperor Guangxu.

The wedding Chamber in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility
Another interior shot of the Emperor's wedding chamber.

A courtyard well
Each courtyard had its own well. Each well as you might expect is spectacular!

A courtyard well detail
The well is more beautiful than my house.

An ancient tree
I just thought this ancient dead tree looked so cool I just had to take a photo.

The Palace of a Thousand Autumns
This is one of the two similarly shaped pavilions in the Imperial Garden. Both are slightly different and spectacular.

Comments

[Brad]

amazing
Every photo you took in the palace is stunning beautiful. I can not imagine how comprehensive your knowledge is about chinese culture and architecture. I even felt shame at my little knowledge of those ancient architectures as a chinese located in china. You have done a great job!

[Guilin]

Thank you very much. I've been studying the Forbidden City for 32 years.