The five most famous scenic spots in the Forbidden City

The five most famous scenic spots in the Forbidden City are the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Zhonghe, the Hall of Baohe, the Gan Qing Palace and the Palace of Kunning.

1, Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, commonly known as the "Golden Hall", is located in a prominent position on the north-south main axis of the Forbidden City. Built in the 18th year of Yongle in Ming Dynasty (1420), it is called Fengtian Hall. In the forty-first year of Jiajing (1562), it was renamed the Imperial Palace. In the second year of Qing Shunzhi (1645), it was renamed. Since its completion, it has been burned and rebuilt many times. What we see today is the shape after reconstruction in the thirty-fourth year of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (1695). The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest and highest-ranking building in the Forbidden City, ranking first among the ancient buildings in China with its high building specifications and exquisite decoration technology.

2. Zhonghetang

Zhonghe Hall is located behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony, with a height of 27 meters, a square plane, three rooms wide and three rooms deep, and corridors on all sides, with a construction area of 580 square meters. The yellow glazed tile has a pyramid-shaped roof with a single eaves and four corners, with a gold-plated top in the middle. Zhonghe Hall is the place where the emperor rested and practiced etiquette before going to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a ceremony.

3. Baohe Hall

Baohe Hall (Shenshen Hall and Jianji Hall) is also one of the three halls of the Forbidden City, behind Zhonghe Hall. Baohe Hall is 29 meters high, rectangular in plan, 9 rooms wide and 5 rooms deep, with a building area of 1 240 square meters. The yellow glazed tile rests on the top of the mountain with double eaves.

4. Gan Qing Palace

Gan Qing Palace, a national 5A-level tourist attraction, is the first of the three royal palaces (Gan Qing Palace, Jiaotai Palace and Kunning Palace) in Beijing Forbidden City, and it is the bedroom of sixteen emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasties (moved to hall of mental cultivation during Yongzheng period). It has a width of 9 rooms, a depth of 5 rooms, a height of 20 meters and a double-eaved roof. There is a throne in the temple with warm pavilions at both ends.

5. Kunning Palace

Kunning Palace is the essence of ancient palace architecture in China. It belongs to one of the last three palaces in the Forbidden City, located behind the Jiaotai Hall, and was built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. Kunning Palace is located in the north and south, with 9 wide corridors and 3 deep corridors. It is the bedroom of the Empress of the Ming Dynasty, with yellow glazed tiles and double eaves.

Recommended route for the Forbidden City tour:

1. Deep tour of the Forbidden City (suitable for people who want to fully understand the Forbidden City): Wumen → Wenhua Hall (painting and calligraphy hall) → Taihe Gate → Taihe Hall → Zhonghe Hall → Baohe Hall → Fengxian Hall (Bell Hall) → Gan Qing Palace → Jiaotai Hall → Kunning Palace → hall of mental cultivation → West Sixth Palace Area → Royal Garden → Shenwumen.

2. The essence tour of the Forbidden City (suitable for people with tight time): Wumen → Taihe Gate → Hongyi Hall → Taihe Hall → Zhonghe Hall → Baohe Hall → Gan Qing Gate → Gan Qing Palace → Jiaotai Hall → Kunning Palace → Royal Garden → Shenwumen.

3. Quality tour of the Forbidden City (suitable for people with enough time): Wumen → Wuying Hall → Wenhua Hall (painting and calligraphy hall) → Taihemen → Taihe Hall → Zhonghe Hall → Baohe Hall → Gan Qing Palace → Jiaotai Hall → Kunning Palace → hall of mental cultivation → Xiliu Palace Area →→ Royal Garden → Dongliu Palace Area → Fengxian Hall (Bell Hall) → Ningshou Palace.

Reference to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Forbidden City