Forbidden city

The Forbidden City – is the largest palace in China, where the emperors of the country of the XV - XX centuries were located. For at least 500 years, this mysterious complex in the middle of Beijing was the residence of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The palace was not entitled to visit ordinary citizens, and daredevils, who nevertheless decided to cross its threshold, were awaiting a death sentence. Nowadays, the forbidden city is open for visits, but is still a mysterious building.

This vast palace complex was listed as one of the first among all the structures of China.

The palace of the forbidden city in China beyond its size can be equated to the famous Versailles in France. The complex covers 72 hectares of territory, where there are at least 800 structures, in which there are 9999 rooms. The whole city is surrounded by a huge wall, ten kilometers long, as well as a moat, which is called « Golden Water ».

As the Chinese structure is supposed to be, its place was determined using feng shui to accumulate internal energy. Thus, the building is surrounded by mountains, a river flows on its territory, and the entrance itself is directed to the south.

The forbidden city was built for 15 years, and about a million people and an immense amount of building materials were attracted for its construction. The integrated structure was completed in 1421.

Residents of the city always dreamed of seeing what was being done behind a high fence, but the entrance to the palace was strictly prohibited. Despite the brutal penalties, there were still those who could not resist, no matter what to try the forbidden fruit.

In 1644, many of the people managed to cross the line of what was permitted, because here there was an uprising of the inhabitants of the city. Ruler Min at that time raised taxes so that he made many starve, and at the same time, bathed in gold. An angry people broke into the Forbidden City and found the emperor drunk. Min immediately killed his female environment, and he hanged himself. After, the time has come for the Qing Dynasty, which also settles in this palace. At this time, the conspiracies of the eunuchs began, of which there were about three thousand. There are a large number of stories about such cases that are very difficult to distribute between truthful and fictitious. In 1853, a young girl in the form of a concubine was sent to the Forbidden City, who turned out to be a very influential woman. As historical literature tells us, the concubine Tsysi is the culprit of both the collapse of the Tsysi dynasty and the entire empire. Her nephew, named Pu-Yi, turns out to be the last owner of the Forbidden City.

In 1923, a fire broke out on the territory of the Forbidden City, which entailed the destruction of imperial warehouses. It is believed that the eunuchs themselves arranged it in order to avoid responsibility for the stolen local wealth.

For 25 years, the Forbidden City has been open to publicity. To get to the main entrance, you must go through the Midday Gate. The entire palace territory is divided into the Inner and Outer Palaces. The most important events were held in the halls belonging to the Outer Palace. Relatives, as well as the concubines of the ruler, were located in the Inner Palace. Each hall of the palace had its own name, for example: « Calm », « Chistots ». The open-air area is decorated with a wonderful garden where magnificent arbors are located. In the midst of the eight kilometer axis that stretches among the Forbidden City, the Throne is located, which is a symbol of the powerful power of the emperor.

Nowadays, the Forbidden City – is a magnificent museum with the oldest valuable relics. Its walls are still covered with mystery, which gives the tour a special meaning.