The Forbidden City, dominating the heart of the city, is a range of well-preserved palace architecture of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is the largest of its kind in the country. The original palaces were constructed during the Ming period (1368 - 1644) over 560 years ago and the present complex was the result of several extensions in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).
The rectangular 'city' is 960 meters (3,149 feet) long from north to south and 750 meters (2,460 feet) wide
The rectangular 'city' is 960 meters (3,149 feet) long from north to south and 750 meters (2,460 feet) wide
from east to west with four gates on each cardinal point, among which the southern gate, Wumen (Meridian Gate) is the main entrance for most visitors to the Forbidden City.
The whole complex was built on an axial symmetry layout with the main palaces arranged on the middle axes from south to north, flanked by associated structures. The complex is divided into two parts by the Gate of Celestial Purity (Qian Qing Men). The first part (south part) is called 'Outer Court' including Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tai He Dian), Hall of Central Harmony (Zhong He Dian) and Hall of Preserved Harmony (Bao He Dian). In this section the emperors exerted their supreme power over the people and the imperial ceremonial events were held. For example, it was on the three-tier marble terrace of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tai He Dian) that an emperor ascended to the throne.
The whole complex was built on an axial symmetry layout with the main palaces arranged on the middle axes from south to north, flanked by associated structures. The complex is divided into two parts by the Gate of Celestial Purity (Qian Qing Men). The first part (south part) is called 'Outer Court' including Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tai He Dian), Hall of Central Harmony (Zhong He Dian) and Hall of Preserved Harmony (Bao He Dian). In this section the emperors exerted their supreme power over the people and the imperial ceremonial events were held. For example, it was on the three-tier marble terrace of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tai He Dian) that an emperor ascended to the throne.
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