Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Beijing

12 ❯❯ Top 10 Beijing Highlights

Forbidden City

Officially known as the Palace Museum, this magnificent complex is a
grand monument to the 24 emperors who ruled from its halls over
a period of almost 500 years. The symbolic center of the Chinese
universe, the palace was the exclusive domain of the imperial court
from its completion in 1420 until the last of the emperors was forced
to abdicate at the beginning of the 20th century. The modern world
intruded in 1949, when the public were finally admitted through the
palace gates. A limit of 80,000 visitors per day remains in force.
Meridian Gate 1
Known in Chinese as the Wu Men, this gate
is the traditional entrance to the palaces. From
the balcony (right) the emperor would review his
armies and perform ceremonies marking
the start of the new lunar year.
Hall of
2
Supreme
Harmony
Raised on a triple tier
of marble terraces, this
largest of halls houses a
sandalwood throne (left),
used in the coronations
of 24 emperors.
Inner Court
3
The Inner Court
is more intimate than
the formal Outer Court,
because this is where the
emperor and empress
lived, close to the
emperor’s concubines.
Imperial Garden
NEED TO KNOW 4
The emperor Qianlong wrote,
MAP L3 • North of Tian’an Men Square “Every ruler [...] must have a garden in
• 8500 7420 • Subway: Tian’an Men West which he can stroll, and relax his
or Tian’an Men East • www.dpm.org.cn heart.” This formal garden, the oldest
Open Apr–May & Sep–Oct: 8:30am– in the Forbidden City, has two beautiful
5pm Tue–Sun; Jun–Aug: 8:30am–5pm pavilions (below).
daily; Nov–Mar: 8:30am–4:30pm Tue–Sun
Adm Apr–Oct ¥60; Nov–Mar ¥40; there
are additional charges for certain halls;
audio guides are available for ¥40 (plus
¥100 deposit)
• There are snack kiosks near the
ticket office, and a restaurant inside.
• Enter through the Meridian Gate
only; other gates are for exit.

Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Three-column, 8.25pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.5)
012-013_Top_10_Beijing.indd 12 27/06/2017 14:32
Date 12th May 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm