北京故宫是中国明清两代的皇家宫殿，旧称紫禁城，位于北京中轴线的中心。北京故宫以三大殿为中心，占地面积约72万平方米，建筑面积约15万平方米，有大小宫殿七十多座，房屋九千余间。北京故宫于明成祖永乐四年（1406年）开始建设，以南京故宫为蓝本营建， 以下是为大家整理的关于故宫介绍文档3篇 , 供大家参考选择。
故宫介绍文档3篇
【篇一】故宫介绍文档
故宫位于北京市中心，也称“紫禁城”。这里曾居住过24个皇帝，是明清两代（公元1368～1911年）的皇宫，现辟为“故宫博物院”。故宫的整个建筑金碧辉煌，庄严绚丽，被誉为世界五大宫之一（北京故宫、法国凡尔赛宫、英国白金汉宫、美国白宫、俄罗斯克里姆林宫），并被联合国科教文组织列为“世界文化遗产”。 故宫的宫殿建筑是中国现存最大、最完整的古建筑群，总面积达72万多平方米，有殿宇宫室9999间半，被称为“殿宇之海”，气魄宏伟，极为壮观。无论是平面布局，立体效果，还是形式上的雄伟堂皇，都堪称无与伦比的杰作。 一条中轴贯通着整个故宫，这条中轴又在北京城的中轴线上。三大殿、后三宫、御花园都位于这条中轴线上。在中轴宫殿两旁，还对称分布着许多殿宇，也都宏伟华丽。这些宫殿可分为外朝和内廷两大部分。外朝以太和、中和、保和三大殿为中心，文华、武英殿为两翼。内廷以乾清宫、交泰殿、坤宁宫为中心，东西六宫为两翼，布局严谨有序。故宫的四个城角都有精巧玲珑的角楼，建造精巧美观。宫城周围环绕着高10米，长3400米的宫墙，墙外有52米宽的护城河。 现在，故宫的一些宫殿中设立了综合性的历史艺术馆、绘画馆、分类的陶瓷馆、青铜器馆、明清工艺美术馆、铭刻馆、玩具馆、文房四宝馆、玩物馆、珍宝馆、钟表馆和清代宫廷典章文物展览等，收藏有大量古代艺术珍品，据统计共达1052653件，占中国文物总数的六分之一，是中国收藏文物最丰富的博物馆，也是世界著名的古代文化艺术博物馆，其中很多文物是绝无仅有的无价国宝。
The Forbidden City ( also known officially as the Imperial Palace Museum ) was commissioned by the third Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yong Le. The palace was built between 1406 and 1420, but was burnt down, rebuilt, sacked and renovated countless times, so most of the architecture you can see today dates from the 1700’s and on wards. The Forbidden City was the seat of Imperial power for 500 years, and is now a major tourist attraction in China. The total area of the complex is 183 acres, so it takes quite a while to walk through, especially if you want to have a close look at everything. All together there are 9,999 1/2 rooms in the Museum, not all of which can be visited.5zL北京英语导游网—优质北京英文导游服务138******** 5zL北京英语导游网—优质北京英文导游服务138******** The Imperial Palace is rectangle architecture. It is 961 meters long from south to north and 753 meters wide. There is city wall with 10 meters height around and the moat outside of city wall is 52 meters wide. The Imperial Palace has 4 gates. The Gate of Divine Prowess(Shenwumen) on the north, Merdian Gate(Wumen) on the south, the Eestern Flowry Gate (Donghuamen) on the east, and the Western Flowery Gate (Xinhuamen) on the south, the Eestem Folwery Gate (Donghuamen) on the east, and the Western Flowery Gate (xinhuamen) on the west. There are 4 corner towers at the 4 coners of city wall and the whole area is 724.250 square meters.5zL北京英语导游网—优质北京英文导游服务138******** 5zL北京英语导游网—优质北京英文导游服务138******** On the whole, the Imperial Palace is divided into two parts: front court and back chamber. Not only in the Imperial Palace, the monarch bed chamber of Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty is divided like so. Front court of the Imperial Palace mainly includes the 3 palaces of mid-way and the Hall of Lierary Glory (Wenhuadian), the Pailion of the Source of Lierature(Wenyuange), Shang Si Court, Arrow tower, Imperial Hospital, Imerial Teahouse. Qing Embassy and Cabinet Warehouse of east way. And also Yu Ying Palace. Yan An Palace. Intermal Affairs Mansion , Building Office and Nan Xun Palace of west way. Back bedchamber includes Back Three Palaces of mid way (the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong), the Palace of Union and Peace (Jiaotaidian) and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong).5zL北京英语导游网—优质北京英文导游服务138******** 5zL北京英语导游网—优质北京英文导游服务138******** East Six Palaces, Feng Xian Palace, Ning Shou Palace and the Palace of Abstinence(Zhaigong) of east way, West Six Palace, the Hall of Mental Cultivalion (Yangxindian), Ci Ning Palace, Ning Shou Palace kang Palace and Shou An Palace of west way. So you can choose on route or two routes among mid you can choose one route or two routes among mid way (outside court, intermal court travel route), west way (intenal cout west travel route) and east way (intenal court east and extenal east travel route). If you are non-group tourist, suggest you rent multi lingual guide record at Menidian Gate (Wumen) and retun when you go the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen). After you visit the Imperial Palace , you go out of the Gate of Dvine Prowess(Shenwumen), enter into Jingshan Park and overlook the panorama of the Imperial Palace . In addition, suggest you visit front-street of Jiangshan Park by manpower pedi-cab at cool night of summer. Shining lights are bright and Forbidden City is brilliant. Colored lights from all directions lighten Meridian Gate (Wumen), the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) turret, palace wall and other main palaces.
This is the palace museum; also know as the Purple Forbidden City. It is the largest and most well reserved imperial residence in China today. Beijing Forbidden City is the head of the world"s top five palace. The Forbidden City was built begin in 1406 and it took 14 years to built it. The first ruler who actually lived here was Ming Emperor Zhudi. North to south is 961 meters, and 753 meters from east to west. And the area of about 725,000 square meters. The Imperial Palace has 8704 rooms. In 1987 the Forbidden City was recognized a world cultural legacy. [legəsi]
这是故宫博物院，也被称为紫禁城。它是北京现在最大、保存最完好的宫殿。北京故宫是世界五大宫殿之首。紫禁城建于1906年，历时14年建造完成。第一个明朝统治者朱棣便住在这里。故宫南北长961米，东西宽753米，建地面积725,000平方米。宫殿共有8704个房间。在1987年紫禁城成为世界文化遗产。
Forbidden City building Classified as "outside in" and "inner court" two parts. 太和palace中和palace and保和palace are the center of the outside in, Where the emperor would hold meeting and exercise of power. 乾清palace、交泰palace、坤宁palace are center of Inner court . Feudal emperors and princess lived here.
故宫的建筑分为“外朝”与“内廷”两大部分. 外朝以太和殿、中和殿、保和殿三大殿为中心，是皇帝举行朝会和行使权力的地方。内廷以乾清宫、交泰殿、坤宁宫后三宫为中心是封建帝王与后妃居住之所。
The red and yellow used on the palace walls and roofs are symbolic. Red represents happiness, good fortune and wealth. Yellow is the color of the earth on the Loess Plateau, the original home of the Chinese people. Yellow became an imperial color during the Tang dynasty, when only members of the royal family were allowed to wear it and use it in their architecture. Dragon, lion and other animals are a symbol of good fortune and dignity. The pine trees and cypress ˈsaipris trees and the pavilions make people feel beautiful and quiet.
红色和黄色作为宫殿墙壁主色调是一种象征。红色代表快乐、好运气、和财富。黄色是中国人的起源地黄土高原大地的颜色。在唐朝黄色成为了代表帝王的颜色，仅有少数人可以穿它，并且也将黄色用于建筑。龙凤、狮子等动物象征这吉祥和威严。这些松树，柏树，还有小亭子给人以幽美恬静的感觉。
The Forbidden City had three large-scale maintenance. The first time was in 1949 when New China has founded. This maintenance fundamentally changed the old society, and show a magnificent scale.
The second time is in 1973, people has protected the palace professional.
The third time is since 2002, continued in 2020, the palace is re-repiring, and "Open areas" will increase from the current 30% to 70%.
紫禁城总共进行了三次大规模的维修。第一次是在1949年新中国成立的时候。这次维修从根本上改变了宫殿的旧社会形态，展现了宏伟壮观的规模。
第二次是在1973年，人们对它进行了更多专业的保护。
第三次从2002年将一直持续到2020年。将使宫殿的开放区从30%增加到 70%。
There are four entrances into the city. The Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate (Gate of Military Prowess) to the north, the Donghua to the east, and the Xihua Gate to the west.
故宫有四个大门，南门为午门，北门为神武门，东门为东华门，西门为西华门。
午门：the shape of the gate is the most high-level form. Wumen gate where the emperor ordered the expedition, and few people can walk through this gate.
午门的形状是最高级别的形式。午门是皇帝下令出征的地方，仅有很少一部分人可以通过这个门。
神武门：Shenwumen is a daily access gate. Now this gate is the main entrance.
神武门是日常出入的门。现在是故宫的正门。
Inside the 太和gate, there are太和palace、中和palace、and保和palace. These three palace are the maintain architecture of the palace museum. Their height of different shapes, and different roof forms, these seem rich and diverse.
位于太和门内, 是太和殿、中和殿、保和殿，这是故宫的三大主要建筑，它们高矮造型不同，屋顶形式也不同，显得丰富多样。
太和殿：This is the most grandeur. And this temple area is the largest one of various in Forbidden City. This temple is the place where the emperor held a major ceremony, like the emperor ascended the throne, birthdays, weddings, New Year"s Day.
太和殿是最富丽堂皇的建筑，建地面积是紫禁城中宫殿最大的。太和殿是皇帝举行重大典礼的地方，比如：皇帝即位、生日、婚礼、元旦等。
中和殿：zhonghedian is located the back of the taihe temple. Where the emperor to take a break before the ceremony and do a pre-exercise。
中和殿在太和殿的后面，是皇帝去太和殿举行大典前稍事休息和演习礼仪的地方。
保和殿：Baohe temple is a place where the annual New Year"s Eve kings and emperors entertain the other kings and is also the place where examinations held and successful candidates.
保和殿是每年除夕皇帝赐宴的场所。保和殿也是科举考试举行殿试的地方。
御花园：There are many pine trees and cypress trees, besides some other precious trees, some rockery, and pavilions. The 万春 pavilion and 千秋pavilion are the preservation of the most beautiful and ancient-style.
御花园里面栽种了很多松柏，和一些珍贵的树种，还有一些假山和小亭子。其中万春亭和千秋亭是目前保存的古亭中最为华丽的。
乾清宫：Palace of Heavenly Purity in the Forbidden City in top court. T here is a throne in the middle of the temple. There are "aboveboard" plaque, two sides of the this court are the places where emperor reading and sleeping. The south of the court is a room that the son of emperor can reading and studying.
乾清宫在在故宫内庭最前面，殿的正中有宝座，内有“正大光明”匾。乾清宫的两头是皇帝读书、就寝之地。厅的南面是皇子读书学习的地方。
坤宁宫：kunning gong in the last surface of the Forbidden City in chambers. Kunning Gong is the Queen"s chambers in the Ming Dynasty. And then it turns to be a ritual place.
坤宁宫坤宁宫在故宫“内庭”最后面，坤宁宫是明朝皇后寝宫，清代改为祭神场所。
交泰殿：This temple in the Palace of Heavenly Purity and between Kunning Gong. The temple is the Queen"s Birthday Celebration birthday activities.
交泰殿在乾清宫和坤宁宫之间该殿是皇后生日举办寿庆活动的地方。
东西六宫：There are 6 temples in the east and west. Ming and Qing imperial concubines used to live.
东西六宫是明清时期嫔妃居住的地方。
It is believed that the Palace Museum, or Zi Jin Cheng (Purple Forbidden City), got its name from astronomy folklore, The ancient astronomers divided the constellations into groups and centered them around the Ziwei Yuan (North Star) . The constellation containing the North Star was called the Constellation of Heavenly God and star itself was called the purple palace. Because the emperor was supposedly the son of the heavenly gods, his central and dominant position would be further highlighted the use of the word purple in the name of his residence. In folklore, the term “an eastern purple cloud is drifting” became a metaphor for auspicious events after a purple cloud was seen drifting eastward immediately before the arrival of an ancient philosopher, LaoZi, to the Hanghu Pass. Here, purple is associated with auspicious developments. The word jin (forbidden) is self-explanatory as the imperial palace was heavily guarded and off-explanatory as the imperial palace was heavily guarded and off-limits to ordinary people.
The Forbidden City is rectangular in shape. It is 960 meters long from north to south and 750 meter wide from east west. It has 9,900 rooms under a total roof area 150,000 square meters. A 52-meter-wide-moat encircles a 9. 9-meter—high wall which encloses the complex. Octagon —shaped turrets rest on the four corners of the wall. There are four entrances into the city: the Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate (Gate of Military Prowess) to the north, and the Xihua Gate (Gate of military Prowess) to the north, and the Xihua Gate (Western Flowery Gate ) to the west, the Donghua (Eastern Flowery Gate) to the east.
Manpower and materials throughout the country were used to build the Forbidden City. A total of 230,000 artisans and one million laborers were employed. Marble was quarried from fangshan Country Mount Pan in Jixian County in Hebei Province. Granite was quarried in Quyang County in Hebei Province. Paving blocks were fired in kilns in Suzhou in southern China. Bricks and scarlet pigmentation used on the palatial walls came from linqing in Shandong Province. Timber was cut, processed and hauled from the northwestern and southern regions.
Hello, everyone,
We are now going to pay a visit to a place of special interest. This scenic spot is located at the center of Beijing and is characterized by thousands of palatial architectures and purple walls as well as yellow glazed tile roofs- it is simply a sea of palaces. This is the world – famous wonder – the Palace Museum.
The Palace Museum has served as the royal residence during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was here that a total of 24 monarchs ascended the throne and wielded power for some 500 years. The Palace Museum, as the most beautiful spot of interest throughout Beijing, is unique for its location: to the northwest is Beihai(North Sea) Park, famous for its white pagoda and rippling lake; to the west is the Zhongnahai (central and south sea); to the east lies the the Wangfujing Shopping Street; and to the north id Jinshan Park. Standing in the Wanchun (Everlasting Spring) Pavilion at the top of Jingshan(Charcoal Hill) Park, you overlook the skyline of the palace Museum. At the southern end of the palace is Tian` anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) and the famous square named after it . This is the symbol of the People` s Republic of China.
A world-famous historical site, the Palace Museum is on the World Heritage List of UNESCO and is an embodiment of oriental civilization.
The Palace Museum is rectangular in shape, 960 meters long from north to south and 750 meters wide from east to west, covering a space of 720,000 square meters of which 150,000 is building area . It has 9000-strong rooms in it . According to legend there are 9999.5 room-units in all .The whole compound is enclosed by a 10-meter-hign wall and is accessed through four entrances, namely, the meridian Gate in the south ,the Gate of Military Prowess in the north, Donghua(Eastern Flowery ) Gate in the north, Donghua ( Eastern Flowery) Gate in the east and Xihua(Western Flowery ) Gate in the west. On each corner there is a turret consisted of 9 roof beams, 18 pillars and 72 ridge . Encircling the compound there is a 3,800-meter-long and 52 meter-wide moat, making the Palace Museum a self-defensive city-within-a city.
The Palace Museum was made a center of rule during the Ming Dynasty by Zhun Di, The fourth son of the founding emperor Zhuyuanzhang. The whole complex straddles on an 8-kilometers-long central axis that stretches from Yongding (Forever Stable) Gate in the south to Gulou (Drum Tower) in the north. Prominence was given to the royal power by putting the “three main front halls” and “three back halls ”on the axis while arrange other subsidiary structure around them .The construction of the Palace Museum involved manpower and resources across China. For example, the bricks laid in the halls ,known as “gold brick, ” underwent complex, two –dozen processes. As the final touch ,the fired bricks were dipped in Chinese wood oil. Involving complicated processes and high cost, these brick are called “golden bricks.” The Palace Museum serves as a living embodiment of good tradition and styles unique to China` s ancient architecture. It reflects to the full the ingenuity and creativity of the Chinese working people. A carefully preserved and complete group of royal residences, the Palace Museum is a prominent historical and tourist site.
What we are now approaching is the main entrance to the Palace Museum-the Meridian Gate, which is characterized by red walls, yellow glazed –tile roofs and upturned eaves. On top of this walls, yellow glazed-tile roofs and upturned eaves. On top of this magnificent building ,there stand five lofty halls with a main hall in the center. The main hall is roofed by multiple eaves and covers a space of 9 room-units. It is flanked by two wings on each side .The wings are square in shape ,complete with multiple and four edged eaves and pinnacles. All of these structures are connected by a colonnade. Because these halls resemble a soaring bird, it was also know as wufenglou (Five-phoenix Tower) . Inside the main hall there is a throne. Drums and bells were stored in the wings. Whenever the emperor presided over grand ceremonies or observed rites in the Hall of Upreme Harmony, drums, bells and gongs would be struck to mark the occasion.
As the legend goes, the Meridian Gate used to be a place where condemned ranking officials would be executed. This not true. However, flogging was carried out here by the Ming emperors ,If a courtier falls afoul of the emperor, he would be stripped of his court dress and flogging with a stick .At one point the punishment became so harsh that a total of 11 people died from fatal wound on a single occasion .On the other hand, this building was also used to observe important occasions like the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival (15th day of the first lunar month). On these occasions, Chinese lanterns would be hanged and sumptuous banquets would be given in honour of the whole court of ministers and other ranking officials.
Upon entering the Meridian Gate we began our tour of the Palace Museum. The river foowing in front of us is known as Jin Shui He (Golden Water River) and the five marbles bridges spanning it are known as the Inner Golden Water Bridges. The on in the middle was used exclusive by the emperor and its banisters were carved with dragon and phoenix designs. The bridges flanking the imperial one were reserved for princes and other royal members. The rest were used by palatines. Aside from decoration, the golden Water River was also dug as precaution against fire. Most of the structures within the palace Museum are made of wood. What is more ,according to ancient Chinese cosmology, the South is the abode of fire, so this brook was dug on the southern tip of the Palace. In this way, the Palace Museum reflects traditional Chinese culture.
This building is called the Gate of Supreme Harmony .In the foreground stand two bronze lions. Can anybody tell which is male and which is female? The one on the east playing with a ball is male, symbolizing power and universal unity. The other on the west with a cub cuddling underneath its claw is female? The one on the east playing with a ball is male, symbolizing power and universal unity. The other on the west with a cub cuddling underneath its claw is female, representing prosperity the endless succession. A layout of the Palace Museum is posted by the entrance . From it ,you can see that the Palace Museum has two main parts: the forecourt and the inner court. The three main halls constitute the mainstay of the forecourt, and it was here that the emperor announced decisions and observed rites. Behind the forecourt there is the inner court, consisting of major halls and the Imperial Garden .It was where the emperor attended state affairs, lived and enjoyed his luxurious life. The exhibition system of the Palace Museum involves historical court relics and articles of ancient art and culture. The Palace Museum houses nearly one million articles of rare treasure, or one sixth of the total number in all of China `s museums. There are the three main halls of the Palace museum, built on a triple marble terrace . Since most of China `s architecture is made of wood, the buildings cannot be too tall. To gain the height of the architecture, ingenious ancient artisans built the hall on a gigantic stone terrace .It is also to this end that not a single plant was grown in the square. On stairways of triple marble terrace there are 18 bronze tripods .The verandah is flanked by bronze tortoises and cranes, which served as symbols of longevity .On the east is a sundial, an ancient timepiece. On the west there is a grain measure suggesting that the emperor was just and equitable.In the front and on each flank ,there is a pair of gilt bronze vats (caldrons ) molded during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty .Each of these weights 2 tons and is filled with water as a precaution in the event of a fire .The structure in the very middle is the Hall of Supreme Harmony ,also known as the throne hall. It is 64 meters in width and is 38 meters from entrance to rear. With terrace exclusive ,the hall is 26.92 meters in height and is 35.03 meters in all .Covering and areaof 2,377 square meters, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is China` s largest exiting wooden structure. The hall is supported by 6 thick ,round pillars carved in a design of coiling dragons. As the holiest place in the hall, the ceiling and colored patterns were made of the finest material available at that time. The throne was placed on a terrace and is flanked by statues of elephants, Luduan (a unicorn which could travel 18,000 kilometers a day and understand all languages), cranes and incense barrels .Over the throne there is the caisson ,or covered ceiling ,which consists of a coiling dragon playing with a ball in its mouth .This ball is known as Xuanyuan Mirror ,and was supposedly made by a Chinese emperor of remote times to serve as a reminder that thee rulers to follow were his hereditary heirs. The throne is made of nanmu and painted in gold .Magnificently built and luxuriously decorated ,this hall did not serve as a place in which the emperor attended to daily affairs. He used his hall for major events such as his birthday, conferral of title of empress or dispatch of generals to war.
Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony ,there sits the Hall of Complete Harmony. This structure is square in shape .Each side is 24.15 meters. This was the place where the emperor relaxed and greeted his courtiers before proceeding to the hall of supreme Harmony to observe rites. This was also the place where the emperor prepared prayers or examined seeds and sowers before he attended ancestral sacrifices or participated in snowing ceremonies. A grand ceremony was also held here once every 10 years for the emperor to genealogize the royal blood. There are two sedan chairs on display in the hall. Behind the Hall of Complete Harmony ,you will see the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which was used as a place where imperial examinations were held. The imperial examination was the hignest level of competing for meritorious appointment under the feudal system dating back to the Sui Dynasty. China` s last imperial examination was held in 1904 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. To the rear of hall there is a marble ramp carved with cloud and dragon designs, the largest of its kind in the whole country . It is 16.57 meters in length, 3.07 meters in width, 1.7 meters thick and weighs 250 tons. It was quarried in Fangshan County in suburban Beijing. To bring this giant piece of stone to Beijing people poured water onto the road and applied rolling blocks during the process.
We are now standing before the square of the Hall of Heaven Purity. It served as a divide separating the forecourt from the inner court .This building is known as the Gate of Heavenly Purity. Emperor Qianlong held court here. Proceeding further north ,you can find three main rear halls ,i.e. the hall of heavenly purity. the Hall of union and peace and palace of earthly tranquility. The hall of heavenly purity if flanked on either side by two gates named after the sun and moon .Inside the enclosure there are 12 palaces and halls symbolizing constellations. All of the other buildings are centered around the Palace of Heavenly Purity , which was meant to suggest that the monarch` s power was endowed by Heaven. The empress and concubines lived in the inner court.
The hall of heavenly purity was where the emperor lived and attended to daily affairs. Later the emperor moved to live in the Palace of Mental cultivation. Looking up you can see a plaque bearing the Chinese inscription “be open and above-board,” a manifesto to court struggle .Behind the plaque a strongbox was stored containing a will bearing the name of the would –be royal successor. This approach of secretly selecting the next emperor was adopted by Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. Two copies of the will were prepared .One was stashed by the emperor in person ,the other was placed inside the strong box behind the plaque. After the death of the emperor, the two copies would be compared and successor would be announced. It was in this way that Emperor Qianglong and others have ascended the throne.
Behind the Hall of heavenly purity you will see the hall of union and peace , which is indentical to the hall of complete harmony. It was there that the emperor received congratulations and tributes from imperial officials on major calender occasions , A total of 25 imperial seals are stored there. In the hall, you will see a plaque with the handwritten inscription of “we wei,” exhorting Taoist doctrines.
Further northward is the Palace of Earthly Tranquillity, which once served as the living room of the empresses` . The hall was later converted into a sacrificial place .Through the windowpanes on the eastern wall you can see the royal bed decorated with dragon and phoenix designs. This hall has also served as the bridal chamber of monarchs.
The Gate of Earthly Tranquilliity leads to the Imperial garden (known to westerners as Qianlong` s Garden ),which was used by the emperor ,the empress, and the concubines. A magnificent structure stands in the middle. It is called the Qin `s an (Imperial Peace) Hall. It is the only building in the Palace Museum that was built in Taoist style. It served as a shrine to the Taoist deity. The garden covers a space of 12,000 square meters ,and is 130 meters from east to the west and some 90 meters from north to the south. There are a dozen halls, verandahs, pavilions and waterside houses in the garden . On each of the fur corner there is a pavilion dedicated to the four seasons which is different in construction style and shape. The garden also features an imperial landscape. With rare trees and exotic rockery, the Imperial Garden served as a model for China` s imperial parks .In all ,a total of 10-strong building styles were applied.
The tall building we are now passing is the gate of military prowess, the back door of the Palace Museum. Our visit is now drawing to a conclusion but the architectures of the Palace are not . On the other side of the road is the 43-meter-hign Charcoal Hill , providing natural protection for the Forbidden City. This was also an embodiment of China` s construction style-putting a pool in the front and a hill in the rear. Now let` s climb up to Wanchun (Everlasting Springs ) Pavillion where we` ll have a great view of the Palace Museum.
【篇二】故宫介绍文档
Shenyang Imperial Palace Hello,everyone!Please allow me to express a warm welcome on behalf of Shenyang citizens.I"m with great pleasure to be your tourist guide and from now on I will show you around Shenyang Imperial Palace,shere the founder of Qing Dynasty Nuerhachi and his son Huangtaiji lived.Shenyang Imperial Palace ,Fuling tomb and Zhaoling Tomb made in the early period of Qing Dynasty are the three famous historical sites in Shenyang . Shenyang Imperial Palace with a history of over 360 years started in 1625 and was roughly accomplished in 1636 during the reign of Nuerhachi and HuangTaiji. After them four emperors of Qing Dynasty had come back from Beijing to this palace for 10 times and enlarged its area and added its buildings.They were Emperor Kangxi,Qianlong,Jiaqing and Daoguang.Therefore,until 1783 the palace was finally finished. Shenyang Imperial Palace is one of the two royal palaces well kept in China.The other one is Forbidden City in Beijing.Shenyang Imperial Palace was entitled "Historic Culture Relics Preserved Buildings" in 1961 by the State Council.This palace is an emperor museum combining the architectual styles of the minorities of Man,Han and Mongolia. This palace covers an area of 60,000 square meters,comprising over 20 courtyards,300 houses and 70 buildings.The whole construction is divided into three sections: the east, middle and west. First let"s pay a visit to the buildings in the buildings in the middle section.The layout of middle section is similar to a Chinese compound with three courtyards.The first courtyard is the office area.It starts from the Grand Qing Gate on the south and ends at Holy Administration Hall.From Phoenix Tower to Purity and Tranquility Hall is the residential area.They all lay out on the same line. The main entrance to the palace is the Grand Qing Gate,also called Meridian Gate because the emperor considered himself as the son of Heaven and the palace should be the center of universe .The Grand Qing Gate was bulilt in 1632 and is was the place where the civilian offcials and military ministers to present themselves before the emperor daily .The special feature of the gate is the tile color.They are all yellow tiles but engraved with green borders.Yellow synbolizes the ground and the royal right while green represents sea and mountains.The combination of them means controlling the vast areas on the earth. The building to the east of Grand Qing Gate is called Ancestor Temple(Taimiao)with yellow tile roof,where Nuerhachi"s descendants offeredsacrifices to their ancestors for blessings.So Ancestor Temple is the most important. Please follow me into the gate.This path in the middle links the gate to Holy Administration Hall with Flying Dragon Pavilion (Feilongge) and Flying Phoenix Pavilion(Xiangfengge) on each side.The Hall of Holy Administration is the main building in the middle part of the palace and it was the center of the military,administrative affairs in eatly Qing Dynasty and had witnessed many national ceremories.Flying Dragon and Flying Phoenix Pavilions were for storing music instruments. Holy Administration Hall was Emperor Huangtaiji"s office.In front of the hall are Rigui and Jiangliang,which were used as measure instruments and supposed to be the symbol of unity. In accient construction,office area is usually in the front part and residential area is in the rear.Since we have visted the place where the Emperors worked and now we"ll pay a visite tothe place where empress and concubines lived.Here is the Phoenis Tower.It served as an entrances to the rear chambers and also the entertainment area of Huangtaiji and his concubines,and some gatherings or banquets were held occasionally.The tower was built on a terrace 3.8 meters tall.It was the tallest building in Shenyang at that time .It is amazing watching sunrise in the morning on the tower and Phoenix Sunrise is one of the famous Eight fascinating Scenes in Shenyang. Look upward ,we will see a board hanging up on Phoenix Tower ,on which Emperor Qianlong inscribed "Ziqidonglai",which meant the Qing Dynasty in Beijing immigrated fron Shengjing,the old name for Shenyang to the east .There are 24staircases leading to Phoenix Tower representing 24 seasonal divisions points in chinese lunar calendar.In Shenyang Imperial palace chambers are higher than halls, which is contrary to the architectural style in Forbidden city in Beijing. Walking through the tower are the rear chambers.The one on the north in the middle was called Purity and Tranquility Hall,which was prepared for emperor and empress.The other four lying on both sides were fo concubines .Purity and Tranquility Hall has five rooms and the First from the east was where Huangraiji passed away here at the age of 52 without any disease.His throne passed to his ninth son,Fulin.In early Qing Dynasty,the construction style was summed up like this: bag-like house,zigzag bed and chimney sitting on the ground.The main buildings here were different from other buildings with a door was opende in the wall of the east room and the other rooms were connected together like a bag.The zigzag beds,made of mud and brick and with fire and smoke tunnels were called"kang"in Chinese.In order to get heat and keep room warm in winter,tunnels was made under the ground of Purity and Tranquility Hall to put fire and smoke through .Now notice the pole standing on the ground for smoke through.Now notice the pole standing right in the middle of the courtyard.This red pole is called Suolun pole,or Holy Pole.Its round tin container near the top was filled with food for feeding crows.It was said that Nuerhachi was savedby crows.Crows are considered sacred in Manchurian culture though in Chinese culture crows are regarded as birds bringing bad luck. Emperor Huangtaiji had four concubines.Among the four concubines Chen was loved best by Huangtaiji and Concubine Zhuang was the wisest and the mother of the next emperor,Fulin.Therefore ,she had a special status among the concubines. The only chimney was built on the rear of Purity and Tranquility hall from the ground with 11 layers ,representing the 11 emperors from Emperor Huangtaiji to the last emperor Puyi.This chimney was the highest one at that time.In Chinese ,the sound of chimeny"tong" is the same as that of unity. To the north further is rear courtyard called Yuhua Garden. After visiting the middle section of the palace ,we come to the eastern section.Its representative building is the Great Administration Hall,flanked by Ten Princes Pavilions.This part was built in 1625,and they were the earliest building in Shenyang Imperial Palace.Great Administration Hall is the place ceremonies and handled state affairs. Great Administration Hall was built with eight sides representing the style of military tent and also Eight Banner military system.Now please look at the ten pavilions,five on each side,which were the offices of the commanders at that time.Here I will give you an introduction to the military system of early Manchurian Period .Nuerhachi divided his troops in four parts and each part was identified by the color of its banner .There sere then four kinds of banner:red,blue,white and yellow banner.As the troops expanded quickly ,another four parts were added and therefore another four kinds of banner were needed .By then there were altogether eight kinds of banner.This army was therefore well known for Eight Banner Army . The last part of Shenyang Imperial Palace is the western section,built from 1782 to 1783 and during Emperor Qianlong"s reign.Its main construction is Book Source Pavilion (Wensuge) with Theater Platform and Good Descendant-benefiting Hall(Jiayintang) in front,Prosperity Administration Stydy (Yangxizhai) and Nine Halls behind.Book Souurce Pavilion(wensuge) was specially designed for storing the encyclopedia compiled at that time,Si Ku Quan Shu.This encyclopedia collected most of the books in Chinese history .Its complication started in 1773.This set of history books is composed of seven sections,more than 36,000 volumes.It took educated persons over 10 years to finish is.When finished,the sholecneyclopedia was duplicated in seven pavilions across China.The other six copies were either damaged during wars or lost.This set is the only one well kept.But the real copy is no longer here and now is restored in the Palace Museum in Beijing and Gansu province library.We can see that Book Source Pavilion covered with black tiles.In Chinese philosophy,black refers water.The pavilion was built for storing books and its biggest threat was fire.So black tiles hinting water covering it on the top as a way of protection .Good Proserty Admiration Study was for Emperor reading while Descendant-benefiting Hall and the Theater Platform consisting of a couryard for Emperor ,his empress and concubines watching plays. Shenyang Imperial Palace is one of the cultural relics in China and it is the symbol of this city .It is a good combination of diferent nationalities as well as a tourist attraction.And now we have to end our visiting ,I hope you all enjoy it and thank you for your cooperation,goodbye.
【篇三】故宫介绍文档
This is the palace museum; also know as the Purple Forbidden City. It is the largest and most well reserved imperial residence in China today. Beijing Forbidden City is the head of the world"s top five palace. The Forbidden City was built begin in 1406 and it took 14 years to built it. The first ruler who actually lived here was Ming Emperor Zhudi. North to south is 961 meters, and 753 meters from east to west. And the area of about 725,000 square meters. The Imperial Palace has 8704 rooms. In 1987 the Forbidden City was recognized a world cultural legacy. [legəsi]
这是故宫博物院，也被称为紫禁城。它是北京现在最大、保存最完好的宫殿。北京故宫是世界五大宫殿之首。紫禁城建于1906年，历时14年建造完成。第一个明朝统治者朱棣便住在这里。故宫南北长961米，东西宽753米，建地面积725,000平方米。宫殿共有8704个房间。在1987年紫禁城成为世界文化遗产。
Forbidden City building Classified as "outside in" and "inner court" two parts. 太和palace中和palace and保和palace are the center of the outside in, Where the emperor would hold meeting and exercise of power. 乾清palace、交泰palace、坤宁palace are center of Inner court . Feudal emperors and princess lived here.
故宫的建筑分为“外朝”与“内廷”两大部分. 外朝以太和殿、中和殿、保和殿三大殿为中心，是皇帝举行朝会和行使权力的地方。内廷以乾清宫、交泰殿、坤宁宫后三宫为中心是封建帝王与后妃居住之所。
The red and yellow used on the palace walls and roofs are symbolic. Red represents happiness, good fortune and wealth. Yellow is the color of the earth on the Loess Plateau, the original home of the Chinese people. Yellow became an imperial color during the Tang dynasty, when only members of the royal family were allowed to wear it and use it in their architecture. Dragon, lion and other animals are a symbol of good fortune and dignity. The pine trees and cypress ˈsaipris trees and the pavilions make people feel beautiful and quiet.
红色和黄色作为宫殿墙壁主色调是一种象征。红色代表快乐、好运气、和财富。黄色是中国人的起源地黄土高原大地的颜色。在唐朝黄色成为了代表帝王的颜色，仅有少数人可以穿它，并且也将黄色用于建筑。龙凤、狮子等动物象征这吉祥和威严。这些松树，柏树，还有小亭子给人以幽美恬静的感觉。
The Forbidden City had three large-scale maintenance. The first time was in 1949 when New China has founded. This maintenance fundamentally changed the old society, and show a magnificent scale.
The second time is in 1973, people has protected the palace professional.
The third time is since 2002, continued in 2020, the palace is re-repiring, and "Open areas" will increase from the current 30% to 70%.
紫禁城总共进行了三次大规模的维修。第一次是在1949年新中国成立的时候。这次维修从根本上改变了宫殿的旧社会形态，展现了宏伟壮观的规模。
第二次是在1973年，人们对它进行了更多专业的保护。
第三次从2002年将一直持续到2020年。将使宫殿的开放区从30%增加到 70%。
There are four entrances into the city. The Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate (Gate of Military Prowess) to the north, the Donghua to the east, and the Xihua Gate to the west.
故宫有四个大门，南门为午门，北门为神武门，东门为东华门，西门为西华门。
午门：the shape of the gate is the most high-level form. Wumen gate where the emperor ordered the expedition, and few people can walk through this gate.
午门的形状是最高级别的形式。午门是皇帝下令出征的地方，仅有很少一部分人可以通过这个门。
神武门：Shenwumen is a daily access gate. Now this gate is the main entrance.
神武门是日常出入的门。现在是故宫的正门。
Inside the 太和gate, there are太和palace、中和palace、and保和palace. These three palace are the maintain architecture of the palace museum. Their height of different shapes, and different roof forms, these seem rich and diverse.
位于太和门内, 是太和殿、中和殿、保和殿，这是故宫的三大主要建筑，它们高矮造型不同，屋顶形式也不同，显得丰富多样。
太和殿：This is the most grandeur. And this temple area is the largest one of various in Forbidden City. This temple is the place where the emperor held a major ceremony, like the emperor ascended the throne, birthdays, weddings, New Year"s Day.
太和殿是最富丽堂皇的建筑，建地面积是紫禁城中宫殿最大的。太和殿是皇帝举行重大典礼的地方，比如：皇帝即位、生日、婚礼、元旦等。
中和殿：zhonghedian is located the back of the taihe temple. Where the emperor to take a break before the ceremony and do a pre-exercise。
中和殿在太和殿的后面，是皇帝去太和殿举行大典前稍事休息和演习礼仪的地方。
保和殿：Baohe temple is a place where the annual New Year"s Eve kings and emperors entertain the other kings and is also the place where examinations held and successful candidates.
保和殿是每年除夕皇帝赐宴的场所。保和殿也是科举考试举行殿试的地方。
御花园：There are many pine trees and cypress trees, besides some other precious trees, some rockery, and pavilions. The 万春 pavilion and 千秋pavilion are the preservation of the most beautiful and ancient-style.
御花园里面栽种了很多松柏，和一些珍贵的树种，还有一些假山和小亭子。其中万春亭和千秋亭是目前保存的古亭中最为华丽的。
乾清宫：Palace of Heavenly Purity in the Forbidden City in top court. T here is a throne in the middle of the temple. There are "aboveboard" plaque, two sides of the this court are the places where emperor reading and sleeping. The south of the court is a room that the son of emperor can reading and studying.
乾清宫在在故宫内庭最前面，殿的正中有宝座，内有“正大光明”匾。乾清宫的两头是皇帝读书、就寝之地。厅的南面是皇子读书学习的地方。
坤宁宫：kunning gong in the last surface of the Forbidden City in chambers. Kunning Gong is the Queen"s chambers in the Ming Dynasty. And then it turns to be a ritual place.
坤宁宫坤宁宫在故宫“内庭”最后面，坤宁宫是明朝皇后寝宫，清代改为祭神场所。
交泰殿：This temple in the Palace of Heavenly Purity and between Kunning Gong. The temple is the Queen"s Birthday Celebration birthday activities.
交泰殿在乾清宫和坤宁宫之间该殿是皇后生日举办寿庆活动的地方。
东西六宫：There are 6 temples in the east and west. Ming and Qing imperial concubines used to live.
东西六宫是明清时期嫔妃居住的地方。
It is believed that the Palace Museum, or Zi Jin Cheng (Purple Forbidden City), got its name from astronomy folklore, The ancient astronomers divided the constellations into groups and centered them around the Ziwei Yuan (North Star) . The constellation containing the North Star was called the Constellation of Heavenly God and star itself was called the purple palace. Because the emperor was supposedly the son of the heavenly gods, his central and dominant position would be further highlighted the use of the word purple in the name of his residence. In folklore, the term “an eastern purple cloud is drifting” became a metaphor for auspicious events after a purple cloud was seen drifting eastward immediately before the arrival of an ancient philosopher, LaoZi, to the Hanghu Pass. Here, purple is associated with auspicious developments. The word jin (forbidden) is self-explanatory as the imperial palace was heavily guarded and off-explanatory as the imperial palace was heavily guarded and off-limits to ordinary people.
The Forbidden City is rectangular in shape. It is 960 meters long from north to south and 750 meter wide from east west. It has 9,900 rooms under a total roof area 150,000 square meters. A 52-meter-wide-moat encircles a 9. 9-meter—high wall which encloses the complex. Octagon —shaped turrets rest on the four corners of the wall. There are four entrances into the city: the Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate (Gate of Military Prowess) to the north, and the Xihua Gate (Gate of military Prowess) to the north, and the Xihua Gate (Western Flowery Gate ) to the west, the Donghua (Eastern Flowery Gate) to the east.
Manpower and materials throughout the country were used to build the Forbidden City. A total of 230,000 artisans and one million laborers were employed. Marble was quarried from fangshan Country Mount Pan in Jixian County in Hebei Province. Granite was quarried in Quyang County in Hebei Province. Paving blocks were fired in kilns in Suzhou in southern China. Bricks and scarlet pigmentation used on the palatial walls came from linqing in Shandong Province. Timber was cut, processed and hauled from the northwestern and southern regions.
故宫博物院——英文导游辞
作者：admin 知识来源：本站原创 点击数： 380 更新时间：2005-8-10 繁體中文
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Hello, everyone,
We are now going to pay a visit to a place of special interest. This scenic spot is located at the center of Beijing and is characterized by thousands of palatial architectures and purple walls as well as yellow glazed tile roofs- it is simply a sea of palaces. This is the world – famous wonder – the Palace Museum.
The Palace Museum has served as the royal residence during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was here that a total of 24 monarchs ascended the throne and wielded power for some 500 years. The Palace Museum, as the most beautiful spot of interest throughout Beijing, is unique for its location: to the northwest is Beihai(North Sea) Park, famous for its white pagoda and rippling lake; to the west is the Zhongnahai (central and south sea); to the east lies the the Wangfujing Shopping Street; and to the north id Jinshan Park. Standing in the Wanchun (Everlasting Spring) Pavilion at the top of Jingshan(Charcoal Hill) Park, you overlook the skyline of the palace Museum. At the southern end of the palace is Tian` anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) and the famous square named after it . This is the symbol of the People` s Republic of China.
A world-famous historical site, the Palace Museum is on the World Heritage List of UNESCO and is an embodiment of oriental civilization.
The Palace Museum is rectangular in shape, 960 meters long from north to south and 750 meters wide from east to west, covering a space of 720,000 square meters of which 150,000 is building area . It has 9000-strong rooms in it . According to legend there are 9999.5 room-units in all .The whole compound is enclosed by a 10-meter-hign wall and is accessed through four entrances, namely, the meridian Gate in the south ,the Gate of Military Prowess in the north, Donghua(Eastern Flowery ) Gate in the north, Donghua ( Eastern Flowery) Gate in the east and Xihua(Western Flowery ) Gate in the west. On each corner there is a turret consisted of 9 roof beams, 18 pillars and 72 ridge . Encircling the compound there is a 3,800-meter-long and 52 meter-wide moat, making the Palace Museum a self-defensive city-within-a city.
The Palace Museum was made a center of rule during the Ming Dynasty by Zhun Di, The fourth son of the founding emperor Zhuyuanzhang. The whole complex straddles on an 8-kilometers-long central axis that stretches from Yongding (Forever Stable) Gate in the south to Gulou (Drum Tower) in the north. Prominence was given to the royal power by putting the “three main front halls” and “three back halls ”on the axis while arrange other subsidiary structure around them .The construction of the Palace Museum involved manpower and resources across China. For example, the bricks laid in the halls ,known as “gold brick, ” underwent complex, two –dozen processes. As the final touch ,the fired bricks were dipped in Chinese wood oil. Involving complicated processes and high cost, these brick are called “golden bricks.” The Palace Museum serves as a living embodiment of good tradition and styles unique to China` s ancient architecture. It reflects to the full the ingenuity and creativity of the Chinese working people. A carefully preserved and complete group of royal residences, the Palace Museum is a prominent historical and tourist site.
What we are now approaching is the main entrance to the Palace Museum-the Meridian Gate, which is characterized by red walls, yellow glazed –tile roofs and upturned eaves. On top of this walls, yellow glazed-tile roofs and upturned eaves. On top of this magnificent building ,there stand five lofty halls with a main hall in the center. The main hall is roofed by multiple eaves and covers a space of 9 room-units. It is flanked by two wings on each side .The wings are square in shape ,complete with multiple and four edged eaves and pinnacles. All of these structures are connected by a colonnade. Because these halls resemble a soaring bird, it was also know as wufenglou (Five-phoenix Tower) . Inside the main hall there is a throne. Drums and bells were stored in the wings. Whenever the emperor presided over grand ceremonies or observed rites in the Hall of Upreme Harmony, drums, bells and gongs would be struck to mark the occasion.
As the legend goes, the Meridian Gate used to be a place where condemned ranking officials would be executed. This not true. However, flogging was carried out here by the Ming emperors ,If a courtier falls afoul of the emperor, he would be stripped of his court dress and flogging with a stick .At one point the punishment became so harsh that a total of 11 people died from fatal wound on a single occasion .On the other hand, this building was also used to observe important occasions like the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival (15th day of the first lunar month). On these occasions, Chinese lanterns would be hanged and sumptuous banquets would be given in honour of the whole court of ministers and other ranking officials.
Upon entering the Meridian Gate we began our tour of the Palace Museum. The river foowing in front of us is known as Jin Shui He (Golden Water River) and the five marbles bridges spanning it are known as the Inner Golden Water Bridges. The on in the middle was used exclusive by the emperor and its banisters were carved with dragon and phoenix designs. The bridges flanking the imperial one were reserved for princes and other royal members. The rest were used by palatines. Aside from decoration, the golden Water River was also dug as precaution against fire. Most of the structures within the palace Museum are made of wood. What is more ,according to ancient Chinese cosmology, the South is the abode of fire, so this brook was dug on the southern tip of the Palace. In this way, the Palace Museum reflects traditional Chinese culture.
This building is called the Gate of Supreme Harmony .In the foreground stand two bronze lions. Can anybody tell which is male and which is female? The one on the east playing with a ball is male, symbolizing power and universal unity. The other on the west with a cub cuddling underneath its claw is female? The one on the east playing with a ball is male, symbolizing power and universal unity. The other on the west with a cub cuddling underneath its claw is female, representing prosperity the endless succession. A layout of the Palace Museum is posted by the entrance . From it ,you can see that the Palace Museum has two main parts: the forecourt and the inner court. The three main halls constitute the mainstay of the forecourt, and it was here that the emperor announced decisions and observed rites. Behind the forecourt there is the inner court, consisting of major halls and the Imperial Garden .It was where the emperor attended state affairs, lived and enjoyed his luxurious life. The exhibition system of the Palace Museum involves historical court relics and articles of ancient art and culture. The Palace Museum houses nearly one million articles of rare treasure, or one sixth of the total number in all of China `s museums. There are the three main halls of the Palace museum, built on a triple marble terrace . Since most of China `s architecture is made of wood, the buildings cannot be too tall. To gain the height of the architecture, ingenious ancient artisans built the hall on a gigantic stone terrace .It is also to this end that not a single plant was grown in the square. On stairways of triple marble terrace there are 18 bronze tripods .The verandah is flanked by bronze tortoises and cranes, which served as symbols of longevity .On the east is a sundial, an ancient timepiece. On the west there is a grain measure suggesting that the emperor was just and equitable.In the front and on each flank ,there is a pair of gilt bronze vats (caldrons ) molded during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty .Each of these weights 2 tons and is filled with water as a precaution in the event of a fire .The structure in the very middle is the Hall of Supreme Harmony ,also known as the throne hall. It is 64 meters in width and is 38 meters from entrance to rear. With terrace exclusive ,the hall is 26.92 meters in height and is 35.03 meters in all .Covering and areaof 2,377 square meters, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is China` s largest exiting wooden structure. The hall is supported by 6 thick ,round pillars carved in a design of coiling dragons. As the holiest place in the hall, the ceiling and colored patterns were made of the finest material available at that time. The throne was placed on a terrace and is flanked by statues of elephants, Luduan (a unicorn which could travel 18,000 kilometers a day and understand all languages), cranes and incense barrels .Over the throne there is the caisson ,or covered ceiling ,which consists of a coiling dragon playing with a ball in its mouth .This ball is known as Xuanyuan Mirror ,and was supposedly made by a Chinese emperor of remote times to serve as a reminder that thee rulers to follow were his hereditary heirs. The throne is made of nanmu and painted in gold .Magnificently built and luxuriously decorated ,this hall did not serve as a place in which the emperor attended to daily affairs. He used his hall for major events such as his birthday, conferral of title of empress or dispatch of generals to war.
Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony ,there sits the Hall of Complete Harmony. This structure is square in shape .Each side is 24.15 meters. This was the place where the emperor relaxed and greeted his courtiers before proceeding to the hall of supreme Harmony to observe rites. This was also the place where the emperor prepared prayers or examined seeds and sowers before he attended ancestral sacrifices or participated in snowing ceremonies. A grand ceremony was also held here once every 10 years for the emperor to genealogize the royal blood. There are two sedan chairs on display in the hall. Behind the Hall of Complete Harmony ,you will see the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which was used as a place where imperial examinations were held. The imperial examination was the hignest level of competing for meritorious appointment under the feudal system dating back to the Sui Dynasty. China` s last imperial examination was held in 1904 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. To the rear of hall there is a marble ramp carved with cloud and dragon designs, the largest of its kind in the whole country . It is 16.57 meters in length, 3.07 meters in width, 1.7 meters thick and weighs 250 tons. It was quarried in Fangshan County in suburban Beijing. To bring this giant piece of stone to Beijing people poured water onto the road and applied rolling blocks during the process.
We are now standing before the square of the Hall of Heaven Purity. It served as a divide separating the forecourt from the inner court .This building is known as the Gate of Heavenly Purity. Emperor Qianlong held court here. Proceeding further north ,you can find three main rear halls ,i.e. the hall of heavenly purity. the Hall of union and peace and palace of earthly tranquility. The hall of heavenly purity if flanked on either side by two gates named after the sun and moon .Inside the enclosure there are 12 palaces and halls symbolizing constellations. All of the other buildings are centered around the Palace of Heavenly Purity , which was meant to suggest that the monarch` s power was endowed by Heaven. The empress and concubines lived in the inner court.
The hall of heavenly purity was where the emperor lived and attended to daily affairs. Later the emperor moved to live in the Palace of Mental cultivation. Looking up you can see a plaque bearing the Chinese inscription “be open and above-board,” a manifesto to court struggle .Behind the plaque a strongbox was stored containing a will bearing the name of the would –be royal successor. This approach of secretly selecting the next emperor was adopted by Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. Two copies of the will were prepared .One was stashed by the emperor in person ,the other was placed inside the strong box behind the plaque. After the death of the emperor, the two copies would be compared and successor would be announced. It was in this way that Emperor Qianglong and others have ascended the throne.
Behind the Hall of heavenly purity you will see the hall of union and peace , which is indentical to the hall of complete harmony. It was there that the emperor received congratulations and tributes from imperial officials on major calender occasions , A total of 25 imperial seals are stored there. In the hall, you will see a plaque with the handwritten inscription of “we wei,” exhorting Taoist doctrines.
Further northward is the Palace of Earthly Tranquillity, which once served as the living room of the empresses` . The hall was later converted into a sacrificial place .Through the windowpanes on the eastern wall you can see the royal bed decorated with dragon and phoenix designs. This hall has also served as the bridal chamber of monarchs.
The Gate of Earthly Tranquilliity leads to the Imperial garden (known to westerners as Qianlong` s Garden ),which was used by the emperor ,the empress, and the concubines. A magnificent structure stands in the middle. It is called the Qin `s an (Imperial Peace) Hall. It is the only building in the Palace Museum that was built in Taoist style. It served as a shrine to the Taoist deity. The garden covers a space of 12,000 square meters ,and is 130 meters from east to the west and some 90 meters from north to the south. There are a dozen halls, verandahs, pavilions and waterside houses in the garden . On each of the fur corner there is a pavilion dedicated to the four seasons which is different in construction style and shape. The garden also features an imperial landscape. With rare trees and exotic rockery, the Imperial Garden served as a model for China` s imperial parks .In all ,a total of 10-strong building styles were applied.
The tall building we are now passing is the gate of military prowess, the back door of the Palace Museum. Our visit is now drawing to a conclusion but the architectures of the Palace are not . On the other side of the road is the 43-meter-hign Charcoal Hill , providing natural protection for the Forbidden City. This was also an embodiment of China` s construction style-putting a pool in the front and a hill in the rear. Now let` s climb up to Wanchun (Everlasting Springs ) Pavillion where we` ll have a great view of the Palace Museum.
