The Temple of Heaven in Beijing

This expansive temple-and-park complex is an iconic site in southern Beijing and possibly the second most popular landmark in the city. Built in 1406 by Ming Emperor Yong Le (r. 1402-1424) for conducting religious sacrifices and rituals, the Temple of Heaven’s layout and architecture are filled with ancient symbolisms, which interpret heaven as a blue, round dome and the earth as a flat, square base.

The centrepiece buildings – The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and The Imperial Vault of Heaven – each features a round, blue glazed tiled roof set on a vermilion body and an ornate marble plint. These two structures were constructed without the use of steel, cement or nails or structural support like beams and cross beams. Open to the public in 1912, the Temple of Heaven has since amazed visitors with its marvelous architecture, craftsmanship as well as its landscape design. It is also one of the most popular parks for local people to relax, do their morning exercise and fly kites.

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven showcases a perfect geometrical setup and heavy emphasis on ancient symbolisms as old as the great philosopher Confucius (551-497 BC) himself.

The principal structures – The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, The Imperial Vault of Heaven, The Altar of Heaven – are placed along the temple’s central north-south axis, with the northern section (the prayer hall) set on a slightly higher elevation than the southern section (the altar) to symbolise heaven’s superiority over the earth.

All three structures feature a circular top (circular shape signifies the over-arching heaven and the sky), with the prayer hall and the altar each set on an expansive square base (the earth) and mounted on an ornate three-tiered marble plinth. The blue glazed-tiled roof, a rather peculiar colour for an ancient structure, represents the colour of the sky (i.e. heaven).

Even the wall surrounding the entire compound has a rounded northern perimeter, then an angular base for the southern section, again to embody the concept of heaven as a higher, celestial entity.

Temple of Heaven History

The Temple of Heaven served as a place of worship for the Ming and Qing emperors (r. 1368 – 1911). When Emperor Yong Le ordered the construction of the Forbidden City to be the imperial residence, he commissioned the ‘house of gods’ to be built on a vast area in southern Beijing.

Occupying 2.75 million square metres, the temple is nearly four times bigger than the Forbidden City (720,000sqm) – as the son of gods dared not build a grander dwelling than that of his divine fathers’. Originally called the Temple of Heaven and Earth, the temple underwent a period of expansion and was renamed the Temple of Heaven under Emperor Jiajing (r. 1521-1527), who ordered three separate temples to be built to enshrine the gods of the sun, earth and moon in the east, north and west of Beijing, respectively.

Highlights and Features

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: Set on a majestic three-tiered marble plinth, this 38-metre-tall structure boasts a three-tiered, circular, blue-tiled roof and a vermilion timber façade that combine to make it an iconic site in southern Beijing. The elaborately decorated interior houses a ceremonial throne, upon which the Ming and Qing emperors would kneel and pray to the god of agriculture. An architectural marvel, this prayer hall was constructed without the use of steel, cement or nails or structural support like beams and cross beams. Here, a total of 28 pillars – each carved from a single tree – are aligned concentrically to provide support to the roof. The innermost circle has four pillars, representing the four seasons, while the two outer circles each has 12 pillars to represent the 12 months and 12 Chinese hours that make up a full day.

Imperial Vault of Heaven: The vault is similar to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests but smaller with a one-tiered roof and one-tiered marble plinth. Inside, it houses the tablets of the gods of stars (e.g. the sun, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn) and the gods of natural phenomenon (e.g. wind, rain, thunder and lightning).

The Echo Wall: This round wall with a single tier, blue-tiled eave surrounds the Imperial Vault of Heaven. So called for its curious characteristic – try whispering close to any point along the wall, and the sound can be heard clearly at the other end.

Altar of Heaven: This is where the emperor would offer sacrifices to the gods; the three-tiered altar constructed entirely from marble – 4,302 slabs in all – spans 70 metres across. Numerology and a perfect geometrical setup play a significant role here. Each of the three levels features nine concentric rings, each constructed with marble slabs in a multiple of nine (the number nine being the emperor’s number), and nine steps leading to the next level. The uppermost platform, spanning 30 metres across, can be accessed from one of the four sets of stairs (with nine steps each) positioned on the east-west and north-south axes.

Hall of Abstinence: Situated along the western axis, this single-storey wooden structure with a blue-tiled roof was used in a three-day fasting ceremony, prior to conducting religious or sacrificial rites. Since 1986, it has been converted into an exhibition hall where sacrificial relics are on display in the original order in which they were used in ceremonies.

Vermilion Steps Bridge: This cypress-fringed, 360-metre long walkway connects the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with the Altar of Heaven. Raised at one metre high at the southern end (the altar) and four metres high at the northern end (the prayer hall), the bridge simulates the feeling of ascending heavenwards as one approaches the prayer hall. Spanning 30 metres across, the bridge has three distinctly marked paths: the middle path was reserved for the gods, to its left was the emperor’s path, and the empress and court official used the path to the right.

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Beijing Hutongs

Hutongs, meaning ‘water wells’ in Mongolian, refer to a maze of narrow lanes (6-7m wide) formed by traditional Chinese courtyard homes (Siheyuan). At the epicentre of Beijing is the Imperial Palace (Forbidden City); the hutongs branch out along its northern, eastern, southern and western walls. The history of the hutongs is as old as Beijing itself, dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368).

Walking amongst the hutongs is like traveling back in time to the days of Imperial China, when life of a typical Chinese family seldom ventured beyond the walls of their courtyard homes. Due to their strictly defined layout and structure, the hutongs have become a proud symbol of old Beijing. In the mid 1950s, the number of hutongs reached its peak at 6,104. Now the number has dwindled to around 2,000, to make way for modern high-rises and urban planning projects.

A visit to the Forbidden City is perhaps incomplete without a tour of the hutongs, for it gives a parallel perspective on life that went on just outside the Imperial Palace in its heyday. Down the winding narrow lanes, children would find a haven for playing hide-and-seek, rubber-band skipping and kicking shuttlecocks, while hawkers would walk from one hutong to another offering their trade, from fruits, vegetables and snacks to knives, kitchen utensils and even barber services.

Each hutong tells stories about its location, origin, history, or occupation of its residences, reflected accordingly through its name. There’s the ‘Earthenware Pot Liu Hutong’ (now Dashaguo Hutong) where Mr. Liu once had his studio and sold earthenware pots, ‘Xianyu Kou Hutong’ or a market for trading fish, ‘Brick Tower Hutong’ (Zhuanta Hutong) with a nine-tiered tower dating back to the Jin Dynasty (1115 - 1234) and ‘Cypress Hutong’ so named after the cypress-fringed landscape.

Then, there are those hutongs with at least a superlative attached, such as the narrowest hutong (Qian Shi Hutong), the longest hutong (Dong Jiaomin Hutong), the shortest hutong (Guantong Hutong) and the hutong with the most turns (Beixinqiao Hutong).

Beijing Hutongs History

Bejing hutongs are the produce of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). After Kublai Khan, the founder of Yuan Dynasty, established a new capital in Beijing, he devised the hutongs as a form of urban planning around the Imperial Palace (eventually burned down and replaced by the Forbidden City). Most hutongs were built during the Yuan, Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties, following a grid-like structure that crisscrossed through central Beijing from the northern, southern, eastern and western walls of the Imperial Palace.

Constructed according to the rules of feng-shui (Chinese geomancy), nearly all the hutongs run east-west with the main entrance facing south to let in sunshine in winter and breezes in summer. From the Imperial Palace, the eastern and western hutongs were reserved for the noble classes, aristocrats and palace officials who were awarded pieces of land by the emperor. These are more spacious and boast ornate roof beams, pillars as well as beautiful paintings and landscaped gardens.


The northern and southern hutongs are far smaller and simpler in design and decoration, reflecting the social status of their residences, most of whom were commoners, labourers, artisans and merchants.

Highlights and Features

Zhuanta Hutong (Brick Tower Lane): An entertainment centre during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and a political centre during the Qing Dynasty. Located near South Xisi Street (west of Beihai Lake), Zhuanta Hutong once housed 10 flourishing opera troupes, 20 theatres and residences of two famous writers Lu Xun and Zhang Henshui as well as former Chairman of the People’s Republic of China (1959-1968), Liu Xioqi. Central to the Zhuanta Hutong is the 10-metre-tall tower dedicated to an erudite monk named Wan Song. After several reconstructions, the tower still preserves its original Yuan Dynasty style.

Shichahai: Northwest of the Forbidden City, east of Qinghai Lake, this area is home to a lively nightlife scene as well as upscale restaurants and bars.From Traditional Street, cross the Jing Ding Bridge over Houhai Lake towards the west, to visit one of Beijing’s luxurious residential areas. Highlights include the spectacular Prince Gong’s Mansion (where the last emperor Pu Yi was born) and, to its southwest, the beautifully preserved courtyard residence of legendary opera star Mei Lanfang. South of Jing Ding Bridge, Qianhai East is famous for its Lotus Lane (Tien He Fang). Here, you will find modern, upscale restaurants and bars, an old tea house and a lively clubbing and nightlife scene. Back in the Shichahai area, climb up the Drum Tower for spectacular panoramas of the entire area.

Yandai Xiejie (Smoking Pipe Lane): South of Drum Tower, between Qianhai and Houhai in the Shichahai area, Smoking Pipe Lane once housed a large concentration of long-stemmed pipe stores from the end of Qing Dynasty. Today, it is an active commercial area with shops selling cultural items such as classic furniture, antiques, tribal costumes, regional crafts and pottery. Apart from souvenir shops, a lineup of traditional eateries, including restaurants, bars, tea houses and cafés have become the main attractions of Yandai Xiejie. At night, when the shops and streets are lit up, the atmosphere is pleasant and welcoming. Facing the picturesque Hou Hai Lake on the west, this is an ideal place to stop for a cup of coffee and to appreciate the scenery.

Liulichang Culture Street (Coloured Glaze Factory Lane): An artists’ street located south of the Peace (Heping) Gate in Xuanwu District, Liulichang was where glazed tiles were produced for palaces, temples and residences of state officials. Today, it delights visitors with treasure-troves of paintings, artworks, Mao kitsch, bizarre collectibles, old books and anything calligraphy related. With brightly painted doors and eaves and gracefully curved black-tiled roofed buildings, the atmosphere here is redolent of Old Beijing. 

Qian Shi Hutong: This hutong is definitely not for the claustrophobic. Formerly the financial district during Qing Dynasty, Qian Shi Hutong (located in Dong Sheng District, east of the Forbidden City) is well-known as the narrowest hutong, at 70cm across for the most part and only 40cm across near Qianmen (Front Gate). Some say the narrow lanes were designed to be thief-proof, as the area used to house up to 26 mints, supplying coins to almost every bank in the city. No longer the financial centre, as all buildings were burned down during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion, Qian Shi today is a residential area. Most buildings can be traced back to the late Qing Period.


Ju'er Hutong: This former lane with a history dating back to the Ming Dynasty is where old and new Beijing meet. In 1987, the northern part of Ju’er Hutong (north of the Forbidden City, east of Huhai Lake) underwent a total refurbishment in an experimental project called The Ju'er Hutong Courtyard Housing Project, spearheaded by Professor Wu Laingyong of the renowned Tsinghua University. The project aimed at preserving traditional courtyard homes but at the same time modernised them into apartment complexes with improved ventilation, drainage and sanitary systems as well as additional floors. The success of this project means a promising future for the hutongs, as they will find their place alongside Beijing’s glass-and-steel high-rises, instead of facing demolition as originally feared. Today, the refurbished section is a popular district among visitors.

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Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs in Beijing

The first tomb, Chang Ling, is the burial plot of the emperor Yongle and noteworthy as the most impressive tomb because of its sequence of opulently-designed halls lying beyond the yellow-tiled gate. The tomb contains a recently-erected statue of the emperor Yongle as well as an abundance of impressive cedar-wood columns. The pine-covered burial knoll towards the back of the compound is yet to be excavated and is closed to the public.

Ding Ling – the third largest tomb within the complex – is the burial spot of the emperor Wanli. Also known as the Tomb of Stability, the crypt is noteworthy because it’s the only one where visitors are allowed to descend into its underground vault. Zhao Ling is the third, open-to-the-public Ming tomb; the final resting site of the 13th Ming emperor – Longqing – it follows a standard yet impressive imperial tomb design.

Despite the fact that they vary in size and architectural complexity, the Ming Dynasty Tombs are comparable in general layout. Each tomb complex starts with a stone bridge, followed by a front gate, a stele pavilion, the Gate of Eminent Favour, the Hall of Eminent Favour, a watchtower and then the Precious Hall at the rear of the oval-shaped compound.

The entryway into the Ming Dynasty Tombs begins with a seven-kilometre road called the ‘Spirit Way’ – the memorial archway at the start of the path is one of the largest stone archways in China today. Once past the Great Palace Gate, which is followed by a road flanked with twelve pairs of lifelike stone statues of armour-clad generals and legendary sacred animals, the front gate consists of three red arches called the ‘Great Red Gate’.

Beyond that is the Shengong Shengde Stele Pavilion – home to a 50-ton tortoise-shaped dragon beast toting a stone tablet. This carving is flanked by four white marble Huabiao – also known as pillars of glory – at each of the four corners of the steel pavilion.

Ming Dynasty Tombs History

The first tomb, Chang Ling, is the burial plot of the emperor Yongle and noteworthy as the grandest tomb with its sequence of opulently-designed halls lying beyond the yellow-tiled gate. As a direct result of the fate that befell Dingling and its contents after its excavation, The People’s Republic of China has ruled that no historical site – especially imperial tombs –may be excavated with the exception of rescue purposes. 

Ding Ling – the only one of the Ming Tombs to have been excavated – is the burial spot of the emperor Wanli and the third largest of the Ming tombs. Also known as the Tomb of Stability, this must-visit spot – home to a magnificent underground palace with five vast chambers housing the emperor and his two empresses’ coffins – contains a series of subterranean interlocking vaults. This tomb is quite possibly the most sensational mausoleum-site due to the controversy surrounding its excavation.

Excavated in the 1950’s, access to the vault is through a set of enormously-vast marble self-locking doors that sealed the chamber after it was vacated; in 1956, the contents of the tomb were unearthed by a group of prominent scholars after pressure was put to excavate Chang Ling. Due to Chang Ling’s relative importance, Ding Ling was chosen as a test site; however even though the excavation revealed an intact tomb, the relative speed at which excavation was done as well as the lack of technology and tools necessary to adequately preserve the excavated artefacts – such as silk, textiles, wood, and porcelain, and the skeletons of the Wanli Emperor and his two empresses – resulted in the severe deterioration of the artefacts.

Mass political movements particularly during the Cultural Revolution, further hindered the excavation progress as Dingling was sacked and its contents were unceremoniously destroyed. It was only after the death of Mao Zedong and the conclusion of the Cultural Revolution that archaeological efforts at the tomb were able to resume. As a consequence these days the items on display at the museum are simply replicas of the destroyed items.

Highlights and Features

Chang Ling: Home to the crypt of the third Ming Dynasty emperor, Yongle and noteworthy as the most impressive tomb because of its sequence of opulently-designed halls lying beyond the yellow-tiled gate.

Dingling: The third-largest tomb within the compound, this crypt is worth mentioning because it’s the only one where visitors are allowed to tour the vast underground palace.

Zhao Ling: The third Ming Dynasty tomb that is open to the public, Zhao Ling is the resting place of the 13th Ming emperor, Longqing.

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Peking Man Site

Once known as Peking, Beijing – China’s capital since the Mongol Yuan dynasty – is a rich jumble of ancient history and modern development. Recent rapid urbanisation and modernization has led to the sprawling northern city to be peppered with avant-garde architecture, shiny skyscrapers and multilane highways.

The Peking man Site at Zhoukoudian, is arguably one of the most widely known excavation sites in the world due to the discovery of hominid localities here. In 1921 Swedish archaeologist Johan Gunnar Andersson found hominid teeth of one of the first specimens of Homo erectus in the sediment of a cave. These remains were christened Peking Man and some time later Otto Zdansky excavated the fossils.

Beijing – the national capital of the People’s Republic of China – is a vast city with an orderly grid of streets. The Forbidden City stands at its centre and the surrounding areas are a hotchpotch of opulent palaces, temples, and huge stone walls and gates.

Zhoukoudian – a cave system located 42 kilometres south west of Beijing - gained notoriety in 1921 when fossils of the first specimen of Homo erectus was discovered in the dregs of a cave. Excavations began under the guidance of Otto Zdansky an Austrian geologist and the first hominid remains, a molar tooth was discovered in 1923. Research led scientists to believe that the Peking man lived in this cave approximately 750,000 to 200,000 years ago.

Soon after that, in 1926, a whole skull was discovered by Chinese archaeologist Pei Wen Chung (Pei Wen Zhong) and excited universal interest. The chronology of the first phase of human history, by and large accepted until then, was overthrown by this discovery. After the first dig, the site became a popular archaeological site and extensive excavations followed.

Zhoukoudian Site History

Zhoukoudian – formerly known as Choukoutien – is a series of caves situated 42 kilometres southwest of Beijing. A famous excavation site due to the archaeological discoveries made here, the most notable discovery at this site is the finding of hominid teeth of Peking Man – the first specimens of Homo erectus.

First discovered by Swedish archaeologist Johan Gunnar Andersson in 1921 and later excavated by Otto Zdansky in 1921, the unearthing of Peking Man resulted in a thorough reshuffling of the hitherto accepted chronology of the beginnings of human history.

Successive years and digs consequently led to the location becoming a popular archaeological site; extensive excavations yielded the remains of approximately 45 incomplete individual human bones as well as animal remains and stone flake and chopping tools. This is by far the most extensive collection of Homo erectus samples from a single locality in the world.

In the ‘20s and ‘30s Chinese archaeologists excavated skulls, rough chipped stone tools, heat-affected stones, burnt bones, ash deposits and animal bones that were alleged to be between 500,000 and 230,000 years old, which led to suppositions that this site might have been the birthplace of civilisation.

Unfortunately the 1937 Sino-Japanese conflict interrupted the excavations with the most devastating consequences – in one of the greatest scientific tragedies of the last century, on the eve of the Japanese invasion the fossils mysteriously disappeared during an attempt to send them to the United States. Some fear that the remains of these bones ended up at the bottom of the ocean. Fortunately highly detailed casts had been made and to this day are exhibited in the site museum. Excavations carried out after the war by Chinese archaeologists have led to the discovery of more remnants including a full jaw and several sections of cranium.

Highlights and Features

Dragon Bone Hill: Visit the exhibition hall which is divided into seven rooms at the top of this hill.
- Room 1: The first room exhibits fossil remains of Peking Man, stone tools, as well as exhibits that depict its appearance and general living conditions. There are also remains that allude to the Peking man's use of fire.
- Room 2: This room houses the Hilltop Caveman's fossils, stone tools, animal fossils and other remains.
- Room 3: The third room exhibits fossils of man to provide a basic understanding of human evolutionary growth.
- Room 4: This room displays Peking Man's dwelling site and the development of human and animal evolution through various geological periods.
- Room 5 & 6: These rooms display other remains including vertebrate fossils such as fish fossils.
- Room 7: This room is home to fossils of a number of the animals – including the bear, elephant, rhinoceros and the tiger – hunted by Peking man.

Hilltop Caveman Cave: The cave of Hilltop Caveman can actually be explored at Zhoukoudian.

Peking Man Cave: This 140 metre-wide, 40 metre-high cave can also be explored; it is the original site for the discovery of Peking Man’s fossils.

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The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China

An undisputable symbol of ancient Chinese military power, the Great Wall is the world’s largest military defense system in the world. It stretches across northern China, separating the mainland from Inner Mongolia, starting at the mouth of Yalu River (Hushan, Liaoning Province) in the east and ends at Jiayu Pass (Gansu Province) in the west, measuring 8,851.8 kilometres (5,500.3 miles) in all.

Rather than one continuous wall, the Great Wall is made up of several sections built at various times throughout history. Its construction spanned 2,000 years, from the Warring States Period (5th Century BC – 221 BC) to the massive expansion period undertaken during the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644).

Constructed using the rammed-earth technique, little of the ‘original’ Great Wall – built during the reign of Qin Shih Huang – has survived the test of time. Much of what is left standing today was constructed with stones and kiln-fired bricks, an engineering innovation under the Ming emperors.

One of China's most scenic attractions that calls for repeated visits, the Great Wall’s lengthy span passes through diverse landscapes and geographical terrains. The easternmost section at Hushan in Liaoning juts right into the Bohai Sea (Pacific Ocean), then it winds up and down mountains, through grasslands and deserts, passing through Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, before ending at Jiayu Pass in Gansu.

Each wall section is fortified with a series of double- or triple-lined walls and military structures, including watchtowers, beacon towers, fortresses, garrison towns and blockhouses. Some of the sections are merged with natural defensive barriers, such as rivers and hills.

As such, walking a section of the Great Wall is not exactly a walk in the park – mostly it involves inching along with hands firmly on the handrail. In remoter, less well-kept sections, it can be dangerous, with loose bricks and stones. One man, though, has trekked the entire length of the Great Wall – but it took him two years – which meant surviving some of China’s most difficult terrain as well as unpredictable weather at high altitudes.

The Great Wall History

Up until the early Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911), China was in constant warfare with neighbouring states and northern invaders. When Qin Shih Huang – the first Chinese emperor – unified the fragmented warring states under his Qin Empire, he linked the existing fortification system together as well as expanding it westward in hopes of warding off the northern nomadic tribes for once and for all.

Finally, what started off as an expansive fortification project turned into the largest military defense system in the world. Constructed using the rammed-earth technique, little of the ‘original’ Great Wall – built during the reign of Qin Shih Huang – has survived the test of time. Much of what is left standing today was constructed with stones and kiln-fired bricks, an engineering innovation under the Ming emperors. The Great Wall was made longer and more robust, with multi-line walls and additional structures, such as canon towers, observations posts, fortresses and beacons.

In effect, the Wall’s military function ceased once Mongolia was annexed by China during the Qing Dynasty. After extensive renovation by the government of the People’s Republic of China, the Badaling section was the first to open as a tourist attraction in 1955.

Highlights and Features

Badaling: The best-preserved – and most-visited section – situated 73km north of Beijing (accessible by bus or taxi). A military stronghold during the Ming Dynasty, Badaling’s outpost at Juyongguan is believed to be the highest point of the entire Great Wall (at 1,000 metres above sea level).

Shanhaiguan: The easternmost section (Ming), with one of the most heavily fortified and best preserved passes (The First Pass under Heaven). Flanked by the mountains and sea, Shanhaiguan is home to the eastern beginning of the Great Wall, or Laolongtou (Old Dragon’s Head), which juts into the Bohai Sea, and the Great Wall Museum. It lies 300 kilometres to the east of Beijing and is accessible via the Jingshen Expressway.

Simatai: Famous for its steep, ragged and intact appearance. The Simatai section (Hebei Province) features an attractive lake (Mandarin Duck Lake) and the famous Fairy Tower, with a steep stairway that rises at an 85-degree angle. Accessible by public bus from Beijing (120km).

Jinshanling: Connects with Simatai to the east (110km northeast of Beijing, accessible by bus), the Jinshanling section (Hebei Province) also has a steep, ragged appearance. Trek up the craggy stone stairs that lead to a watchtower for a spectacular view of the Great Wall snaking across the mountain ridges into the horizon.

Mutianyu: Winding through verdant mountains and pine forests, the Mutianyu (72km from Beijing, accessible by bus) section is renowned for its spectacular scenery.

Jiayuguan: Constructed in 1372 using the rammed-earth technique, Jiayuguan is the western starting point of the Great Wall and one of its best-preserved ancient military fortresses. The pass boasts magnificent three-storey fortresses and watchtowers, which look out over the vastness of the Gobi desert. Visitors should fly in to Jiayuguan City, then take a taxi to the pass.

The Forbidden City in Beijing

The Forbidden City was the centre of Imperial China during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1416 – 1911). In its heyday, as many as 9,000 people – guards, servants, eunuchs, concubines, civil servants and members of the Royal Family – lived inside the Forbidden City. Entry was restricted to very few, apart from ministers and state officials. Today, the Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved ancient palace complex in the world.

Covering 720,000 square metres, it contains 90 palaces and courtyards, 980 buildings and 9,999 rooms, all constructed with wood. The Outer Court was where the emperor carried out ceremonies, state banquets and imperial examinations. To the north of the Outer Court, lying beyond the Gate of Heavenly Purity is the Inner Court where the emperor, his consorts and the imperial household once lived. It is believed that approximately one million imperial treasures – paintings, silver, gold, jades, bronze ware, ceramics, porcelains, embroidered silk – are still kept here.

About Forbidden City

Today, the Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved ancient palace complex in the world. Covering 720,000 square metres, it contains 90 palaces and courtyards, 980 buildings and 9,999 rooms, all constructed with wood. The Outer Court houses three important structures – the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Middle Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony – where the emperor carried out ceremonies, state banquets and imperial examinations. To the north of the Outer Court, lying beyond the Gate of Heavenly Purity is the Inner Court where the emperor, his consorts and the imperial household lived.

Imagine getting lost inside a closed world of brightly painted wood, massive pillars with elaborately carved dragon scales and heads, white stone floors covered by yellow carpets, walls adorn with decorative silk embroideries and paintings. The Forbidden City is filled with history and haunting memories of Imperial China.

History of Forbidden City

The construction of the Forbidden City was commissioned by Emperor Yong Le, the third Ming Emperor, after he relocated the capital city to Beijing in 1406. Following the ancient rules of spatial design, and the Chinese belief that emperors were gods bestowed by heaven, the arrangement of the buildings reflects the hierarchical order in heaven; all principal buildings are aligned on the vertical axis from south to north, flanked by a symmetrical arrangement of minor structures on horizontal axes. This arrangement puts the Forbidden City right at the centre of downtown Beijing.


After 14 years, the construction of all main structures was finished. A maze of bright-red walls, white marble balustrades with ornate relief patterns and yellow tiled roofs became the signature of this Imperial City. For the next 500 years, it housed the administrations and imperial households of 24 emperors, survived several peasant revolutions and saw millions of treasures come and go. Then China plunged into a period of political turmoil, ending the phase of feudal rule with Pu Yi – the last emperor of China. In 1925, the Forbidden City was open to public.

Highlights and Features

Meridian Gate: The southern (main) entrance with five individual gates, for admitting people of certain ranks. The central gate was traditionally preserved for the use of the emperor.
Gate of Supreme Harmony: Main entrance to the Outer Court guarded by a pair of bronze lion statues, symbolising imperial power.

Hall of Supreme Harmony: The largest hall within the Forbidden City, used for ceremonial purposes, such as coronations, military leader nominations and imperial weddings. It is set on a three-tiered marble stone base and houses the ornate Dragon Throne.

Hall of Preserved Harmony: Pillar-free hall used for banquets and later imperial examinations.

Gate of Heavenly Purity: Separates the Inner Court from Outer Court, guarded by a pair of bronze lion statues.

Palace of Heavenly Purity: The emperor’s residence and, in the later Qing period, imperial audience hall.

Palace of Earthly Tranquility: The empress’ residence during the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), then the Qing emperor’s nuptial chamber and worshipping altar.

Hall of Mental Cultivation: The emperor’s office and later (from Emperor Yongzheng onwards) his bed chamber.

Clock Exhibition Hall: Houses about 200 antique clocks and timepieces given to the emperors by foreign envoys and Chinese-made clocks, including the six-metre high water clock – the largest in China.

Imperial Garden: Where the imperial family spent their leisure time. Peppered with sculptures and four pavilions symbolising the four seasons, this landscaped garden is ideal for relaxing in.


Treasure Gallery: It is believed that today, approximately one million imperial treasures – paintings, silver, gold, jades, bronze ware, ceramics, porcelains, embroidered silk – are kept in the Forbidden City. They are on display at the Treasure Gallery located at the northeastern corner, inside the three exhibition halls: Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, Hall of Joyful Longevity and Belvedere of Well-Nourished Harmony.

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Beijing Botanical Garden

Beijing Botanical Garden didirikan pada tahun 1956 dengan bantuan dana dari pemerintah pusat.

Beijing Botanical Garden terletak di kaki jauh Barat Bukit di Kabupaten Haidian. Ini adalah barat laut dari pusat kota Beijing dan mencakup area seluas 400 hektar Hal ini dikenal sebagai kebun raya terbesar di Cina Utara. Taman menampilkan berbagai pohon langka dan bunga yang menakjubkan. Selain itu, juga rumah sejumlah atraksi sejarah. Konservatorium tanaman, yang dalam beberapa hal menyerupai istana kristal, terletak di pusat taman. Rumah kaca adalah salah satu yang terbesar di Asia, dan pameran ribuan tanaman tropis dan subtropis. Ada daerah yang ditunjuk untuk berbagai pohon dan tanaman berbunga. Sebelas kebun bertema membentuk pemandangan spektakuler dalam taman, yang menampilkan mawar, peony, lilac, bambu, magnolia, bonsai, Prunus mume bunga, bunga abadi, herba peony, peach hias dan berbagai bunga Cina lainnya.

Atraksi Menarik:

Conservatory: The Conservatory utama, salah satu proyek terbesar di Beijing, adalah setup pada tahun 1999 dengan luas 6.500 meter persegi untuk ditampilkan. Ada total 3.000 tanaman taksa tumbuh di bagian kristal, termasuk rumah hutan hujan, kaktus & sukulen rumah, anggrek & rumah karnivora, rumah alpine, rumah tanaman dedaunan dan bunga menunjukkan rumah. Fitur dari hutan hujan ditampilkan di rumah hutan hujan tropis, seperti papan menopang akar, daun menetes-tip, bunga cauline, dan lain-lain Keragaman epifit dan tanaman karnivora penangkapan anak-anak dan bahkan mata orang tua 'di anggrek & karnivora rumah . Lebih dari 1.000 spesies kaktus dan succulents dikumpulkan di rumah mereka. Ini membuat Anda merasa seperti berjalan di sebuah Arizona atau Afrika jalur. Jadi, Konservatorium adalah situs yang sangat penting bagi pendidikan botani dan konservasi sumber daya tanaman.

Penjing taman: Penjing (Bonsai) adalah seni tradisi kuno di Cina. Sejarah panjang dapat ditelusuri kembali ke 1.900 tahun yang lalu. The Penjing taman pameran yang menarik di Beijing Botanical Garden. Kebanyakan karya Penjing datang dari berbagai bagian dari Cina dengan gaya yang berbeda.

Ada juga luar pohon miniatur lebih dari 100 tahun di kebun. Sebuah pohon ginkgo kini berusia lebih dari 1.300 tahun. Taman menyediakan pengunjung dengan tempat yang elegan untuk mempelajari seni Penjing, menghargai dan saling bertukar karya. Situs Bersejarah Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall, Makam Liang Qichao, Kuil Buddha Tidur dan 9 Desember Pavilion juga dapat dilihat di sana. Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall menggambarkan adegan hidup desa pegunungan Cina. Makam Liang Qichao, reformis terkenal di akhir Dinasti Qing (1644-1911), terletak di luar daerah berhutan taman. Kuil Buddha Tidur dibangun di awal Dinasti Tang (618-907) ketika patung Sakyamuni tembaga besar, bersama-sama dengan dua belas lebih kecil patung-patung Buddha dianggap sebagai suci. The 9 Desember Pavilion dibangun dalam memori dari 9 Desember Gerakan, yang berlangsung pada tahun 1935 dan menyerukan diakhirinya perang sipil dan resistance terhadap agresor Jepang.

PT. I Five Productionz

Jalan Taman golf no.28 , LK Centre , Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, 11520.

Phone:+62812 6 555 555 9 atau +628788 077 3538.

BlackBerry Messenger: 5717ba69 / 53E7B2D8

E-Mail : admin@skyetourandtravel.com / skye.operator@gmail.com