The Forbidden City in Beijing, China was constructed from 1406 to 1420 as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties. It covers over 750,000 square feet and contains nearly 9,000 rooms. The palace complex is divided into two sections - the outer court was where the emperor conducted business and the inner court held the imperial living quarters. Some of the most important structures within the Forbidden City include the Meridian Gate, the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Imperial Garden. The Forbidden City served as the home for 24 emperors over nearly 600 years until the abdication of the Qing dynasty in 1924.

1. By Paul Wiesner
THE FORBIDDEN CITY

2. EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THE
FORBIDDEN CITY
Forbidden City 1

3. 593 Years of history
7,750,016 Square feet in size
8,707 Rooms
THE FORBIDDEN CITY IS A
MAGNIFICENT PALACE.
Forbidden City 2

4. Constructed by the Yongle emperor
Construction began in the year 1406
Completed in 1420.
THE FORBIDDEN CITY IS A
MAGNIFICENT PALACE.
Forbidden City 3

5. Home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Remained a residence until 1924
Designed by a eunuch named Nguyen An
THE FORBIDDEN CITY IS A
MAGNIFICENT PALACE.
Forbidden City 5

6. The Forbidden City is aligned with the Polar Star along a north-south axis
Ceremonial halls are arranged with southern exposures
Compass-rose

7. Inner Court was imperial living quarters
Outer Court was for imperial business
THE INNER COURT & THE
OUTER COURT
Inner and Outer Court

8. The Meridian Gate
The Gate of Supreme Harmony
The Hall of Supreme Harmony
The Hall of Central Harmony
The Hall of Preserved Harmony
The Gate of Heavenly Purity
OUTER COURT
Outer Court

9. Main entrance to the Forbidden City
Tallest structure
Spanning a height of 98.5 feet.
No building was permitted to be taller.
Used for the palace rituals
The central archway was reserved for the Emperor
THE MERIDIAN GATE
The Meridian Gate

10. GATE OF SUPREME HARMONY
Gate of Supreme Harmony

11. Most important building in the palace complex
Emperors were enthroned
Formal rituals were conducted here
THE HALL OF SUPREME
HARMONY
The Hall of Supreme Harmony

12. Added in 1765
Central throne
Where the Emperor would rest
before reigning over major events
taking place in the Hall of Supreme
Harmony
THE HALL OF CENTRAL
HARMONY
The Hall of Central Harmony

13. Used for rehearsing rituals
Hosting banquets during the Qing
Dynasty
Sits on a three-tiered marble terrace
Hosts the most elaborate throne in
the complex
THE HALL OF PRESERVED
HARMONY
The Hall of Preserved Harmony
Shea

14. Entrance to the Inner Court
THE GATE OF HEAVENLY PURITY
Gate of Heavenly Purity

15. Hall of Heavenly Purity
The Hall of Union and Peace
The Hall of Earthly Tranquility
The Imperial Garden
INNER COURT
benyeuda

16. Living quarters of the Ming
emperors
Considered to be a masculine
building
Emperors hosted New Year’s Eve
banquets
Most the Ming emperors died hear
Site for Imperial funerals
Thirteen Ming emperors made this
palace their residence
HALL OF HEAVENLY PURITY
Hall of Heavenly Purity

17. The empress’s throne room
Where the ladies of the court would
gather
THE HALL OF UNION AND PEACE
The Hall of Union and Peace

18. Living quarters for the empress
Was considered to have feminine
virtues
Served as a sacrificial hall
THE HALL OF EARTHLY
TRANQUILITY
Rostad

19. Covers three acres
In the four corners of the garden
there are pavilions
This garden was where the emperor,
empress and concubines relaxed and
were entertained by the Chinese
opera.
THE IMPERIAL GARDEN
Li

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21. THE END