Interesting places in Forbidden City:

Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian)		Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan)
Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian)		天一門
The Hall of Preserving Harmony Hall (Baohedian)		Arrow Pavillion (Jianting)
Shui Dian		The Hall of Worshipping the Ancestors (Feng Xian Dian)
Archery Ground		Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong)
Heavenly Purity Gate (Qianqingmen)		Clock and Watch Exhibition Hall
Bronzeware Exhibition Hall		Zhongzuomen
Sansuodian (Third Side Hall)		Houzuomen
Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong)		Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yang Xin Dian)
Yikungong		Palace of Inheriting The Heaven (Chengqianggong)
Palace of Lasting Happiness (Yanxigong)		Chang Chun Gong (Hall of Eternal Spring) 長春宮
Zhongyoumen		崇樓
Yuhua Pavillion

The Forbidden City (Chinese: �; pinyin: Zijinch�ng; literally "Purple Forbidden City") was the Chinese imperial palace during the mid-Ming and the Qing Dynasties. The Forbidden City is located in the middle of Beijing, China. It is now known as the Palace Museum.

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emperor's point of view
Made by Cåsver
Forbidden City, Beijing. 北京故宫 太和殿前 Standing in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City, Beijing. This is where the emperors of Ming and Qing China held weddings, enthronements and national ceremonies. It was considered the center of Forbidden City, Beijing, the Middle Kingdom and whole universe. It's not hard to understand why. The Forbidden City, or the Former Palace in Mandarin, was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For five centuries it served as the home of the emperors of China. Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings with 8,707 rooms and covers a total of 720,000 m2 (7,800,000 sq ft). The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. The Forbidden City is surrounded by a 7.9m high city wall and a 6m deep, 52m wide moat. The wall is pierced by a gate on each side. At the southern end is the main Meridian Gate. To the north is the Gate of Divine Might, which faces Jingshan Park. The east and west gates are called the East Glorious Gate and West Glorious Gate. At the four corners of the wall sit towers with intricate roofs boasting 72 ridges, reproducing the Pavilion of Prince Teng and the Yellow Crane Pavilion as they appeared in Song Dynasty paintings. These towers are the most visible parts of the palace to commoners outside the walls, and much folklore is attached to them. According to one legend, artisans could not put a corner tower back together after it was dismantled for renovations in the early Qing Dynasty. Traditionally, the Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The Outer Court or Front Court is the southern sections, and was used for political and ceremonial purposes. The Inner Court or Back Palace is the northern sections, and was the residence of the Emperor and his family.


forbidden city - dragon & deer
Made by Cåsver
The Forbidden City, or the Former Palace in Mandarin, was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For five centuries it served as the home of the Emperors of China. Traditionally, the Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The Outer Court or Front Court is the southern sections, and was used for political and ceremonial purposes. The Inner Court or Back Palace is the northern sections, was the residence of the Emperor and his family and include three small but carefully designed imperial gardens. Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings with 8,707 rooms and covers a total of 720,000 m2 (7,800,000 sq ft). The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. From wikipedia. Outer Court, Forbidden City, Beijing. 北京故宫 西六宫


Hall of Supreme Harmony
Made by mischiru
The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest hall within the Forbidden City. It is located at its central axis, behind the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Built above three levels of marble stone base, and surrounded by bronze incense burners, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is one of the largest wooden structures within China. It was the location where Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty Emperors hosted their enthronement and wedding ceremonies. Together with the Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony, the three halls constitute the heart of the Outer Court of the Forbidden City. The Hall of Supreme Harmony rises some 30 meters above the level of the surrounding square. It is the ceremonial center of imperial power, and the largest surviving wooden structure in China. It is nine bays wide and five bays deep, the numbers nine and five being symbolically connected to the majesty of the Emperor. The six pillars nearest the imperial throne are covered with gold, and the entire area is decorated with a dragon motif. The imperial Dragon Throne, in particular, has five dragons coiled around the back and handrests.


Action Plan Template - Vision, Goals, and Objectives
Made by IvanWalsh.com
An Action Plan is a summary of what you are going to accomplish in your business over a specified period of time. Use this template to: Scope the big picture - Outline what you want to accomplish with objectives, budget, time and tie each deliverable to an action step. Break out smaller tasks - Assign tasks to team members. Consider the deadlines in terms of allocating resources. Create a list of action steps - For each task, prepare a list of to-dos ranked in sequential order. Prioritize - Some steps are more important that others. Prioritize steps based on deadline, task, and the number of steps remaining. Communicate - Circulate the plan to team members that have been assigned tasks. Complete deadlines on time - Estimate when tasks will be finish based on the rate of action step completion. Track results – Evaluate performance and implement continuous monitoring procedures to ensure the project stays on track. www.mysoftwaretemplates.com/2009/06/action-plan-template/


Golden Imperial Guardian Lion
Made by Noel back in Zurich
This particular lion is a male as he is on the right side and his right paw is resting on the flower of life. He is there to protect the temple. An imperial guardian lion, also called a Fu Lion or a Foo Dog, and called Shi in Chinese, is a common representation of the lion in pre-modern China, which is believed to have powerful mythic protective powers that has traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, temples, emperors' tombs, government offices, and the homes of government officials and the wealthy from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), until the end of the empire in 1911. In Tibet, the guardian lion is known as a Snow Lion and similar to Japanese shishi. Imperial guardian lions are still common decorative and symbolic elements at the entrances to restaurants, hotels, and other structures. In Myanmar they are called Chinthe and gave their name to the World War II Chindit soldiers. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_guardian_lion


Communication Plan Template - Feedback Form
Made by IvanWalsh.com
A Communication Plan provides a framework for increasing, enhancing and improving communications among project stakeholders. Use this template to schedule and assign responsibilities. Specify the writers, audience, topics, delivery dates, delivery mechanism, sensitive issues, resources and expected results. 1. Enhance transparency and accountability to customers, clients and the public 2. Provide a tangible benefit to customers by providing specific direction, measurable goals and implementable processes 3. Exchange messages and information with groups identified in the Communication Strategy 4. Identify the information and publicity measures necessary to bridge communication and information gaps 5. Reflect a strategic approach to communication measures and activities Example at: www.mysoftwaretemplates.com/2009/06/communication-plan-te...


Inside the Forbidden City
Made by Jason's Travel Photography
From Wikipedia: The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial city from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 bays of rooms[1] and covers 720,000 square metres (7,800,000 square feet). The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture,[2] and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987,[2] and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City


forbidden city
Made by Cåsver
Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City, Beijing. 北京故宫 太和殿 The Forbidden City, or the Former Palace in Mandarin, was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For five centuries it served as the home of the emperors of China. Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings with 8,707 rooms and covers a total of 720,000 m2 (7,800,000 sq ft). The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.


Imperial roof decoration
Made by T e e J e
Chinese imperial roof decoration or roof charms or roof-figures (檐獸 / 檐兽; Pinyin: yán shòu) or (走獸 / 走兽; Pinyin: zǒu shòu) or (蹲獸 / 蹲兽; Pinyin: Dūn shòu) was only allowed on official buildings of the empire. Chinese roofs are typically of the hip roof type, with small gables. Variant versions are still widespread in Chinese temples and has spread to the rest of East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. Along the unions between the roof panels, near the corner, a row of small figures is placed. These are often made of glazed ceramic and form an outward marching procession. Here we see the imperial yellow glaze reserved for the emperor. At the tail of the procession will be an imperial dragon, representing the authority of the state.


Emperor Yongle's 72 Hectares
Made by . . c h e r y l . .
The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. The Forbidden City, situated in the very heart of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The construction of the grand palace started in the fourth year of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1406), and ended in 1420. In ancient times, the emperor claimed to be the son of Heaven, and therefore Heaven’s supreme power was bestowed upon him. The emperors’ residence on earth was built as a replica of the Purple Palace where God was thought to live in Heaven. Such a divine place was certainly forbidden to ordinary people and that is why the Forbidden City is so named.


Cartier-Bresson, Chine (1958)
Made by roberto_berna
CHINA. Beijing. 1958. A unit of the People's Militia awaits their turn at the daily morning drill. In the background, Tien An Men Palace where the country's leaders stand to review patriotic parades. www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP3=ViewBox_VPage&amp... L'ultimo acquisto della mia collezione! Last entry in my collection! moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/henricartierbresso...


Chinese guardian lions
Made by T e e J e
Chinese guardian lions, also called Fu (Foo) Lions, lions of Buddha, or sometimes stone lions (石獅, Pinyin: Shíshī) in Chinese art, are a common representation of the lion in pre-modern China, which is believed to have powerful mythic protective powers that has traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, temples, emperors' tombs, government offices, and the homes of government officials and the wealthy from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), until the end of the empire in 1911. Lions of Fo are always created in pairs, with the male playing with a ball and the female with a cub. They occur in many types of Chinese pottery and in Western imitations.


"Art Student" #2
Made by musicmuse_ca
Hanging around outside of the Forbidden City Starbucks, we ran into the art student scam. She was working with a partner, and said that they were art students from Mongolia. Again, this was the last day of their displays and it was right inside next to the Starbucks. We talked for a while, and she soon realized that I wasn't going for the con, so she switched approaches (like any good salesperson would) and asked if I wanted to hire a car and a guide from her for the Great Wall. I declined, but I did take her card. She then let me take this shot. Capitalism is alive and well in Beijing, believe me. :) Unesco


The Forbidden City - Watchtower
Made by Meiguoxing
The Forbidden City, (also called the Palace Museum, Gugong, Chinese: 故宫), the imperial residence of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, is the largest and best-preserved palace complexes in the world. The complex has 70 structures and more than 9000 rooms. It is surrounded by a high wall and encircled by a moat. Turned into a museum in the early 20th Century, it houses a great collection of fine treasures. The Nationalist Party took a large number of these treasures to Taiwan in 1949 but 900,000 relics remain. Behind the palace is a delightful royal garden


Jack Daniels Old No 7
Made by IvanWalsh.com
Jack Daniel's is a brand of Tennessee whiskey (not to be confused with bourbon) known for its square bottles and black label; they also produce a cheaper green label, and the premium Gentleman Jack and Single Barrel varieties. Jack Daniel's is consumed in shots, neat, on the rocks, in mixed drinks (especially Jack and Coke), and as an ingredient in several cocktails (most notably Lynchburg Lemonade, as sold in pre-mixed bottles in the USA). The company, based in Lynchburg, Tennessee, has been owned by the Brown-Forman beverage company since 1957. Source: Wikipedia More at www.InsideWhisky.com


Nine-Five Symbolism
Made by T e e J e
The Hall of Supreme Harmony rises some 30 meters above the level of the surrounding square. It is the ceremonial center of imperial power, and the largest surviving wooden structure in China. It is nine bays wide and five bays deep, the numbers nine and five being symbolically connected to the majesty of the Emperor. The six pillars nearest the imperial throne are covered with gold, and the entire area is decorated with a dragon motif. The imperial Dragon Throne, in particular, has five dragons coiled around the back and handrests. The screen behind it features sets of nine dragons, again reflecting the nine-five symbolism.


Forbidden City III
Made by hó
The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace for almost 500 years, from the Ming Dynasty in the 15th Century to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, and served as the political centre of Chinese government, as well as the Emperor's seat. The Forbidden City is the world's largest surviving palace complex and the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers an area of 72 hectares. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.


Robado (stolen)
Made by hdehner
porque poco a poco a la cultura se la van robando... Tomada en la Ciudad Prohibida, Beijing, China Nuestro acompañante nos contaba que durante las primeras incursiones occidentales a comienzos y mediados del siglo XX, los soldados extranjeros raspaban las ollas gigantes para robarse el oro que las forraba. (step by step, culture has been stolen, Taken at Forbidden City) [our companion told us that foreign soldiers that entered the city by the beginning and middle of 20th century scratched the giant pots to steal their golden covering]


Forbidden Viewpoint
Made by China Chas
Day 17 - August 24 - 3.03pm By the end of the Olympics, most of the events were over and most of the athletes had time to explore some of Beijing's historic sights, including the Forbidden City. Unfortunately, the management had other ideas, kicking everyone out well before closing time so they could set up fireworks for the Closing Ceremony. Since this was my third visit to the Forbidden City, I already had the standard tourist shots in my collection, so I could concentrate on other sorts of photography...


Forbidden City roof detail
Made by Mr eNil
The morning before the opening ceremony we went on a guided tour of the Forbidden City - man was that a hot and humid day! We spent a good few hours going around the enormous complex and only saw a fraction of it. The main buildings had been renovated for the Olympics and were all sparkly and bright - so much gold leaf was used it hurts the eyes. As one of the places I have longed to see for so many years it did not disappoint - the only thing was, it left us wanting more. One day .... one day .... *sighs*