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The Forbidden City Photo Tour
The Forbidden City Photo Tour
Beijing's fabulous Forbidden City is the large palace complex in the world, definitely the No.1 tourist attraction included in all Beijing Tour itineraries. Construction of The Forbidden City began in 1406 during the reign of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1911), Emperor Yongle. Beijing was built with The Forbidden City in the center. The Chinese name for The Forbidden City when it was home to China's Emperors was "The Purple Forbidden City", it is called the Palace museum today. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace until 1911 when the last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Emperor Xuantong, gave up his throne. In 1925 The Forbidden City was turned into The Palace Museum to save the buildings and their treasures in perpetuity. The Forbidden City was designed to show the power and status of "The King of Heaven". It is impossible for a visitor to see everything The Forbidden City has to offer with just one visit. It was and remains a place of impressive beauty. It was designed to instill a sense of wonder in visitors and even in this modern age, it still has the capability to do just that.
A spectacular marble dragon from a pathway
You never know what surprises await behind the next gateway
The Pavilion of One Thousand Autumns
A gilt bronze lion standing guard for all eternity
A gilt bronze guardian in the Imperial Garden
Every inch of The Forbidden City is a work of art
A pavilion on top of a man made rockery in the Imperial Garden
One of The Forbidden City's four corner guardtowers
Each magnificent building in The Forbidden City is unique
A golden door knocker in The Forbidden City
The Emperor's bed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation
Even the walls are covered in gold at The Forbidden City
A collection of unused stone lions in The Forbidden City
A pavilion hidden behind a rockery
The classic glazed tile roofs of The Forbidden City
A bronze tortoise incense burner located in front of The Hall of Supreme Harmony
Giant bronze lions guarding the Gate of Supreme Harmony
The moat and corner guard tower of the magnificent Forbidden City
A recommended Beijing tour for imperial and local culture
Continue to enjoy a photo tour of Beijing to the Temple of Heaven
