Forbidden City - China I

Forbidden City is a complex of buildings in China.
It is located in the capital Beijing . It is located in the city center, close to Tiananmen Square . This complex was built during the Ming Dynasty, which ruled China from 1368 - 1644 and was the last Chinese national dynasty. Currently the name of Forbidden City is also the Palace Museum.

The city is surrounded by walls and a moat. The whole area of the city measures 960 meters in length and 760 meters in width. All buildings in this complex are located in the north-south axis.

The gate to the city from the north is through the Noon gate, which follows the High gate. Behind the gate about the middle of the complex there is a group of ceremonial buildings - the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which was built in 1627 and where the coronation ceremonies, birthday parties and New Year celebrations of the emperor took place.

Then there is the Perfect Harmony Hall, where the emperor prepared for ceremonies, and the Hall of Guarding harmony. Next to the ceremonial places there is the private imperial part. It is separated by the gate of Heaven Purity and it composes of three buildings - the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the residential palace of Earthly Tranquility and between them is situated the Hall of the Great Connection.

Forbidden City had been inaccessible till 1911. It was only after the fall of the dynasty that it opened to ordinary people. Forbidden City has been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987.