Beijing Airfares

By Rachel Newcombe: In the centre of Beijing, north of Tiananmen Square, is the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum. It’s the largest palace in the world, covering a massive 74 hectares. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties of China, it was used as the imperial palace. UNESCO listed the Palace Museum as a World Heritage Site in 1987. Today, it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in China along with the Great Wall and pretty much anywhere during New Years festivities.

Construction of the Forbidden City began in 1407, during the fifth year of the Yongle reign (third emperor of the Ming dynasty). Up to one million people worked hard on the palace, which took 14 years to complete. Outside, the building is surrounded by a six-metre deep moat and high wall measuring ten metres, with a gate on each side. Yellow is the predominant colour for the inside decorations and roof, as it was regarded as a symbol of the Royal Family.

The palace contains many notable rooms, such as the Hall of Central Harmony, where the emperor rested and waited to greet dignitaries, the Hall of Protective Harmony, where the emperor hosted banquets, and the Palace of Earthy Tranquility, which was the bed chamber of the empress. Access is inevitably limited to some areas, but visitors are able to see the main courtyards, treasures, artefacts and some of the outside garden areas. For anyone interested in getting a better understanding of Chinese history, a visit here is recommended. Go!