My Travel Log : Beijing - Forbidden City

Welcome to the 2nd post of my Travel Log. Today I'm happy to share with you more photos from my trip to Beijing China. The second stop on my trip in this wonderful country is none other then the Forbidden City. This historic landmark is another one of China's greatest attractions.

Ringed by a 52m-wide moat at the very heart of Běijīng, the Forbidden City is China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, and the largest palace complex in the world according to lonelyplanet.com.

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty—the years 1420 to 1912. It is located in the centre of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. It served as the home of emperors and their households as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government for almost 500 years. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. [Source]

When you enter the city, you cant help but feel amazed by the architecture and the mystery that the palace embodies. The details in the design and layout of the city down to the material used is amazing and is said to reflect philosophical and religious principles. The layout, ornaments, material, and even the colors used all have meaning. Everything was meticulously well thought out and planned in the construction of the city.

• Yellow is the color of the Emperor. Thus almost all roofs in the Forbidden City bear yellow glazed tiles. There are only two exceptions. The library at the Pavilion of Literary Profundity had black tiles because black was associated with water, and thus fire-prevention. Similarly, the Crown Prince's residences have green tiles because green was associated with wood, and thus growth.

• The main halls of the Outer and Inner courts are all arranged in groups of three – the shape of the Qian triagram, representing Heaven. The residences of the Inner Court on the other hand are arranged in groups of six – the shape of the Kun triagram, representing the Earth.

• The sloping ridges of building roofs are decorated with a line of statuettes led by a man riding a phoenix and followed by an imperial dragon. The number of statuettes represents the status of the building – a minor building might have 3 or 5. The Hall of Supreme Harmony has 10, the only building in the country to be permitted this in Imperial times. As a result, its 10th statuette, called a "Hangshi", or "ranked tenth" is also unique in the Forbidden City.

• The layout of buildings follows ancient customs laid down in the Classic of Rites. Thus, ancestral temples are in front of the palace. Storage areas are placed in the front part of the palace complex, and residences in the back

[Symbolism Source]

The palace grounds are enormous and can hold hundred's of thousands of people. On any given day the palace was packed with visitors.

Their are several galleries and museums showcasing artifacts and other priceless imperial collections and art. The palace also has its own wooden opera house. Surrounding the palace are some amazing and intricate gardens. A definite must see for those who love floral and vibrant colors.

When visiting, you quickly realize that any emperor who lived here had all of his needs cared for. It is a self contained city within a city and an amazing work of architecture. The palace is a definite MUST visit for anyone who enjoys architecture, history, and grand designs.

You can easily spend a whole day here and although there are a lot of people, the place is so big that it hardly feels crowded at all. There is just so much to see and do and it's even nice to just stand around and take in the beauty that this place embodies.

I hope you enjoyed the second part of my travel series. Please follow me and comment below if you would like to see more.

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Photos taken using: GoPro Hero 4 Black

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To read my previous posts from my Travel Log series, please click on the links below:
My Travel Log : Beijing - Great Wall of China