The Palace Museum in Beijing - A Glimpse into History

The Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Located in the center of Beijing, it is the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structure in the world. Here is some basic information about the Palace Museum in Beijing: ### History - **Construction time**: The Forbidden City was built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty (1406) and took 14 years to complete. - **Usage history**: From the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420) to the 3rd year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty (1911), a total of 24 emperors lived and handled state affairs here. - **Establishment of the museum**: In 1925, the Forbidden City was declared a museum and opened to the public. ### Architectural Features - **Building scale**: The Forbidden City covers an area of about 720,000 square meters and a building area of about 150,000 square meters. - **Palace layout**: The palace is arranged along the central axis according to the ancient Chinese palace building system, with a north-south orientation, divided into two parts: the outer court and the inner court. - **Main buildings**: Including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony (the three main halls of the Outer Court), and the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (the three palaces of the Inner Court), etc. ### Cultural Heritage - **Collections**: The Palace Museum has a large number of precious cultural relics, including calligraphy and painting, porcelain, jade, gold and silver utensils, ancient books, etc. - **Exhibitions**: The museum regularly holds various exhibitions to display these precious cultural relics. - **Research**: The Forbidden City is also an important base for the study of ancient Chinese culture, art, and history. ### Tourist Information - **Opening hours**: The Palace Museum is open all year round, but the specific opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. - **Tour route**: Due to the large area of the Forbidden City, it is recommended to plan the tour route in advance or follow the tour guide. The Forbidden City is not only a symbol of China, but also a World Cultural Heritage site, attracting thousands of tourists every year.