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TheForbiddenCity（紫禁城）Size:TheforbiddencityislocatedinthecentreofBeijingcity,itusedtobetheimperialpalacefortheMingandQing24emperorstoliveandhandlestateaffairs.Ithasahistoryofabout600years.NameSource:Inthefeudalsociety,emperorwascommonlyconsideredthesonofGod,sohealwayshadthesupremepowerandhisresidencewasabsolutelyforbiddentothecommonpeople.WhatisthenamesourceofForbiddenCity.Ofcourse,itisopentothepublictoday,soyouguysareverylucky!Room:Theforbiddencityisrectangularinshapewithatotalspaceofabout163,000squaremeters.Therewasapopularsayingthatithad9,999andahalfroomsintheForbiddencity.Accordingly,thenumberisonlyahalflessto10,000becauseemperoronearthdidnotdaretocomparehimselfwiththeGodofHeaven.Wellinfact,theforbiddencityconsistsof980buildingswith8,700rooms.It’samazing,right?Whatshockedmemostisthattheappearanceisneverdisorderedwithsomanyrooms.Thatismainlybecausetheforbiddencitywasbuiltalongthecentralnorth-southaxisandshowgreatsymmetry.Path:Todayourpathwayisfromsouthtothenorth,thatis,weenteredtheforbiddencityfromMeridianGateandexitfromtheGateofDivineProwess.Thetotaljourneyinsideisabout2hours.1:TheMeridianGate（午门）Namesource:theemperorbelievedthatthemeridianlinewentthroughtheforbiddencityandhisimperialresidencewasthecenterofthewholeuniverse.Thatisanotherexplanationisthatintheancienttimes,“meridian”means“South”.2:ThegateofSupremeHarmony（太和门）Function:Emperorusuallyheldhisimperialaudience,accepteddocumentsfromhisministersandmadedecisionshere.Thefollowingthreehallsarethemainbuildingsintheoutercourt,successively,theyareTheHallofSupremeHarmony,theHallofMiddleHarmonyandTheHallofPreservingHarmony.3:theHallofSupremeHarmony:（太和殿）Theemperorexercisedhisrole(重大典礼)overthecountryhere.Itisahallforgrandceremoniesaswellasimportantfestivalcelebrations.4:ThehallofMiddleHarmony（中和殿）ThenameofMiddlecomesfromtheConfuciusideaof“mean”and“impartial”.Itisaplacefortheemperortotakeashortrest.InQingDynasty,theemperorusuallycamehereandexaminedthetoolsforploughing（农耕）inspringtime.Besidesthat,theemperoralsoheldceremonyofpresentingthegenealogyrevisionandapproval.5:thehallofPreservingHarmony（保和殿）Itisaplacefortheemperortohavebanquetstoentertainthecivilandmilitaryofficials.LaterinQingDynasty,emperorheldtheImperialPalaceexaminationhere.Attention!Thereisnopillarinitsfrontpart.WhenyouarewalkingthroughtheGateofHeavenlyPurity（乾清门）,youhaveenteredtheInnerCourt.Resemblingtotheoutercourt,therearealsothreemainbuildingsinside,thefirstoneyouareseeingis6:ThepalaceofHeavenlyPurity（乾清宫）InMingandEarlyQingDynasty,emperorsusedtolivehereandhandlethedailyaffairs.LaterafteremperorYongzheng,itwaschangedtobeanaudiencechamberforreceivingforeignambassadorsandenvoysformvassalstates.8：thepalaceofUnionandPeace（交泰殿）Itisaplacewheretheempressheldtheimportantceremoniesandherbirthdaycelebration.inQingDynasty,theempressusuallycamehereandexaminedthetoolsforpickingmulberryinspringtime.Namesource:thenameofthispalacecamefromthebookofChanges(ZHOUYI),whichmeanstheintercourseofheaven&earth,harmonyofpositive&negative,aswellastheharmonybetweenemperor&empress.7:ThepalaceofEarthlyTranquility（坤宁宫）InMingandEarlyQingDynasty,itwasusedasempress’sresidence.Later,thehallwascompletelyreconstructedbyimitatingQingningPalace(清宁宫)inShenyangaccordingtotheManchu’scustom.8:TheImperialGarden（御花园）itisabout12,000squaremeters,containingmorethan20differenttypesofbuildings,pavilions,terracesetc.youcanalsoseelotsofpinetrees,cypresstreesandotherbotanies.Undoubtedly,theImperialGardenisanidealplaceforentertainmentandrelaxation.Ok,itisalmosttheendofourvisitintheForbiddencity.Youcanhavea5minutesshortbreakhere.Thetoiletis……..,pleasecomebackat…….ThelastspotistheGateofDivineProwess(神武门).Actually,thenameofthegatewasXuanwumenatfirst,butwhentoEmperorKangxi,ashisnameisXuanye,thegate’snamehadthesamepronunciationwithemperor’sname.Youknow,itwasaserioustabooformentioningtheemperor’snameinancienttimes.Hencethegate’snamewasfinallychangedto“Shenwumen”.