The Forbidden City in Beijing, China

The Forbidden City lies at the heart of Beijing. Much of the history of Beijing, and of China itself, is centered on this expansive territory. Though it is no longer the seat of government, it still remains an important piece of China's history. It is also an essential part of the economic life of Beijing because since tourists come from all over the world to see this ancient site.

Before making a visit to the Forbidden City, it is helpful to understand more about the history of the area as well as what to expect to see on a visit. This way, you can more thoroughly enjoy the history and culture that the Forbidden City represents.

The Forbidden City was built in the early part of the 1400's and was home to two dynasties of China's emperors, totaling 24 emperors, for almost 500 years. The Ming Dynasty, which took place from 1368-1644, first built the palace and courtyard. It took almost 15 years to finish building the palace and the courtyard, but the imperial family was eventually able to live there. The Qing dynasty, which was of Manchu descent, then governed the area until the last emperor abdicated his throne in1912.

Even while during the time when there was no emperor on the throne, the Forbidden City remained at the center of conflict. After the last emperor agreed to abdicate, for example, the new Chinese government agreed to let him live in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City. This only lasted until 1924, at which time there was a coup and he was evicted for the last time. Both the Japanese army and Chinese dissenting party have occupied the Forbidden City at various times during the 20th century.

The Forbidden City is no longer a residence of any kind. Its history and artifacts have been preserved as a museum, however, called The Palace Museum, which now controls the preservation of the whole city. The Palace Museum has been designated one of China's most protected monuments and was put on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1987. You can only get to the Palace Museum through the Tiananmen Gate, which is located to the north of the Forbidden City.

There are almost a thousand buildings still standing in the Forbidden City and included as part of the Palace Museum. They were once offices and lodgings for government officials. Today, these buildings are known as the most ancient collection of standing wood buildings in the world. The outer court of the Museum once contained the halls of Supreme Harmony, Central Harmony, and Preserving Harmony, while the inner courts included the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Visitors can still see these buildings at the Palace Museum.

The Palace Museum was first established as the History Museum in the early 20th century and many of the other museums in China brought their treasures to it for display. Before World War 2, as the Japanese were invading China, many of the Museum's treasures were moved out of it for safe-keeping. Some of them ended up in Taiwan and have since become the core of the display and stored collection in that region.

In the 1950's, the People's Republic began to renovate the Museum so it would be an even greater attraction to visitors. Better lighting and handicapped accessibility were put in, buildings were remodeled, and security was installed. This was also the time when the concrete for Tiananmen Square was poured and Tiananmen would eventually become the biggest public square in the world.

It is interesting to note that many of the colors and shapes used to design the Forbidden City were selected because of their symbolic meanings. These include:

• Yellow: color of the Emperor

• Black: water and fire prevention

• Green: wood and growth

• Qian tiagram, or groupings of three: heaven

• Kun triagram or groups of six: earth

Even the number of statuettes on a building represents its importance. A building with three or five statuettes on its roof is a minor building, while 10 statuettes represents extreme importance.

It is fairly expensive to enter the Forbidden City, costing about 60 yuan per person, which is only a little more than 8 US dollars. This money is used to support the preservation work done at the city. This way, the Forbidden City and its artifacts can remain in the best shape possible for visitors and for the world.