Layout and Design of Forbidden City
Forbidden City is the ancient royal palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty where 14 of the Ming and 10 of the Qing, ruled the country over a span of nearly 500 years. The palace was listed by the UNESC0 as a world cultural heritage site in 1987 and now has known as one of popular tourist destinations in Beijing.
Layout of Forbidden City
Covering a total area of 72 hectares, the rectangular palace city has totally 8,707 rooms. Because of its large complex, Forbidden City has separated into two major areas including Outer Court (Front Palace) and Inner Court (Back Palace). During 500 years, Beijing Forbidden City had been repaired and rebuilt several times, but its basic form and layout remains in the original state.
Outer Court of Forbidden City
Outer Court was the place where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the country. After enter Forbidden City from the front gate, visitors usually will meet the main gate called Meridian Gate. Then after that, you see Great Hall of Forbidden City (heart of the palace). There are Hall of the Supreme Harmony, Hall of Middle Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony.
Hall of the Supreme Harmony is the most important and largest hall inside the palace. It was the place for important ceremonies like the enthronement of the crown prince, the emperor's birthday celebrations, and the initiation of military expeditions.
Hall of Middle Harmony is the resting place of the emperors before major ceremonies or receiving officials. And the third hall called Hall of Preserving Harmony was used for banquets and later for imperial examinations. Three halls in Outer Court of Forbidden City were the most important halls in ancient times of China especially during Ming and Qing reign of China.
Inner Court of Forbidden City
Inner Court was the emperor lived with his family. Inner Court also has its own major three halls including Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and the Hall of Earthly Tranquility. The emperor himself slept in a building called the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The Empress lived in a building called the Hall of Earthly Tranquility.
Behind Inner Court lies Imperial Garden, the last part of Forbidden City on the central north-south axis when heading northwards, before the north gate. It was a private garden for imperial family, contains several elaborate landscaping features very ideal place for relax, sip a tea and meditate.
