As a royal palace in the Ming and Qing dynasties, Beijing’s Forbidden City has a rich history and culture and many scenic spots worth exploring. In addition to well-known scenic spots such as the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Dry Qing Palace and the Imperial Garden, the Forbidden City also hides some little-known corners waiting for visitors to explore. Here are some of the palace’s hidden attractions:
1. Golden brick and golden silk nanmu pillars in the Hall of Supreme Harmony
Gold bricks: The gold bricks of the Hall of Supreme Harmony are not lightly trodden on, they have special historical significance. These gold bricks are hard in texture and exquisite in laying technology, and are treasures in the palace architecture.
Golden nanmu pillars: The Hall of Supreme Harmony originally used golden nanmu as pillars, but due to insufficient materials during the reconstruction of Kangxi, some pillars were replaced with northeast red pine. If you want to see the golden Nanmu column with your own eyes, you can visit the Imperial Temple.
2. The wonder of Yin-Yang Dao in Dongbongzi Road
ที่ตั้ง: Dongtuzi Road is the road where Puyi rode his bicycle when the Last Emperor was shot.
Wonder: At around 12:50 at noon, the sun shines on the ground through the alley, forming a wonder of Yin and Yang, which is very magical.
3. Yanxi Palace — the only Western building in the Forbidden City
Features: Yanxi Palace is the only western building in the Palace Museum, although it is a rotten building, but its unique style is definitely worth seeing.
History: The Yanxi Palace suffered a fire in the late Qing Dynasty and was rebuilt in the Western style, but it was never fully completed.
4. Thousand autumn Pavilion and caisson in the imperial garden
Qianqiu Pavilion: The Qianqiu Pavilion in the Imperial Garden has a beautiful caisson with exquisite details, which is the perfect combination of art and history.
Caisson: Caisson is a unique decoration in ancient Chinese architecture, usually located on the top of palaces, temples and other buildings, with symbolic significance.
5. Chu Xiu Palace and Cixi Buddhist Hall
Chuxiu Palace: One of the six palaces in the Inner Tinsi, it was once the residence of concubines, and the Empress Dowager Cixi also lived here.
Cixi Buddhist Hall: Cixi Buddhist Hall is located in Chuxiu Palace, including a pair of white towers, although not impressive, but they are a witness to the history of the Forbidden City.
6. Wenyuan Pavilion — the only black-roofed building in the Forbidden City
Features: Wenyuan Pavilion is the only black-roofed building in the Palace Museum, which is distinctive.
History: During the Qianlong period, Wenyuan Pavilion was built in order to store the Complete Book of the Four Repositories. Its black roof is designed to prevent fire, as the black tiles contain special fire-resistant materials.
7. Cining Palace and Moon dial
Cining Palace: Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang once lived here, and there is a moon dial in the palace.
Lunar dial: The lunar dial is an instrument that uses the position of the moon to indicate the time. Although it is humble, it has witnessed the changes of history.
8. Palace Museum Furniture Museum
ที่ตั้ง: Enter through the meridian gate on the left side.
Exhibits: The main exhibition of Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong period palace furniture, including top boxes and other heavyweight collections. The furniture is exquisite and eye-opening.
9. Closed areas of the Forbidden City (part)
Cold Palace: Cold palace does not have a fixed geographical location, but a symbol, referring to the real cold, nobody to visit the palace. There are many legends about the cold palace, which add some mysterious color to the old palace.
Yuhua Pavilion: An attic full of Tibetan Buddhist features, cleverly designed but closed due to disrepair.
Hall of Mental Cultivation: The sleeping palace of emperors, closed to the public since 2015 due to a damaged heating system, dampness and cold.
Exploration suggestion
Planning in advance: The Forbidden City has a vast area and many attractions, so it is recommended to plan your trip in advance and arrange your time reasonably.
Attention to open information: Some hidden attractions or closed areas may be temporarily closed to the public due to maintenance, protection and other reasons, please know the relevant information in advance.
In-depth experience: In addition to visiting scenic spots, you can also participate in explaining services and cultural and creative experiences of the Forbidden City to have a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City is not only a magnificent palace complex, but also a historical treasure house full of stories and secrets. By exploring these hidden attractions, you will gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the palace and feel the unique charm of this royal palace.
