The Palace Museum, located in central Beijing, was the imperial palace of China's Ming and Qing dynasties. It is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden architectural complexes in the world, renowned as the foremost of the world's five great palaces.
Historical Evolution
- Construction Period: Initial construction began in 1406 (the 4th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty), taking 14 years to complete.
- Historical Significance: Served as residence and administrative center for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
- Modern Transformation: Established as the Palace Museum in 1925 and opened to the public.
Architectural Layout
- Site Area: 720,000 square meters, with building area of about 150,000 square meters.
- Number of Structures: Contains 980 palace buildings with 8,707 rooms.
- Layout Feature: Divided into Outer Court and Inner Court, strictly following a central axis symmetrical layout.
Main Buildings
- Hall of Supreme Harmony: Commonly known as the "Throne Hall", it's the highest-ranking hall in the Forbidden City.
- Palace of Heavenly Purity: The emperor's bedchamber from Ming Dynasty to early Qing.
- Hall of Mental Cultivation: The workplace and residence of emperors after Yongzheng's reign in Qing Dynasty.
- Imperial Garden: The largest royal garden within the Forbidden City.
Collection Highlights
- Collection Size: Houses over 1.86 million cultural relics, accounting for 42% of China's precious cultural artifacts.
- Representative Pieces: "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting, Shang and Zhou bronzes, Ming and Qing porcelain, etc.
- Categories: Includes 25 categories such as paintings, ceramics, bronzes, jades, and clocks.
Visitor Information
- Opening Hours: Peak season (Apr 1-Oct 31) 8:30-17:00; Off-season 8:30-16:30.
- Ticket Price: 60 yuan (peak), 40 yuan (off-peak).
- Recommended Route: Meridian Gate→Hall of Supreme Harmony→Hall of Central Harmony→Hall of Preserving Harmony→Palace of Heavenly Purity→Hall of Union→Palace of Earthly Tranquility→Imperial Garden→Gate of Divine Prowess.
Travel Tips
- Best Season: Spring and autumn with pleasant weather and fewer visitors.
- Notice: Flammable items like lighters are prohibited; photography restricted in some areas.
- Guide Service: Chinese and English audio guides available for rent.