Completed in 1420, the Forbidden City served as the imperial palace of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Covering over 720,000 square meters, it remains the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden palace complex in the world.
In this episode, discover the hidden secrets behind the Forbidden City—from the origin of its name, the symbolism of its red walls and yellow roofs, the Outer Court and Inner Court, to the legendary 9,999½ rooms, ingenious mortise-and-tenon architecture, and the priceless cultural treasures preserved inside.
More than a palace, the Forbidden City is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese engineering and a timeless symbol of Chinese civilization.
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Secrets of the Forbidden City. This is the most mysterious ancient palace in China.
For over 500 years, ordinary people were never allowed to step inside.
Welcome to the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum.
It was built from 1406 to 1420, taking 14 years to complete.
24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties once lived and ruled here.
Do you know why it's called the Forbidden City?
Ancient Chinese believed the North Star was the center of the heaven,
called purple, forbidden enclosure. The emperor was regarded as the son of heaven,
so his palace was named the Forbidden City.
Covering 720,000 square meters, it follows a strict central axis symmetry.
It is divided into two parts, the outer court and the inner court.
The outer court was for grand ceremonies and national affairs.
The inner court was the private living area for the royal family.
The red walls and golden roofs are its classic symbol.
Yellow was exclusive to the emperor, standing for supreme power.
Red represents dignity, luck, and prosperity.
Amazingly, the whole palace uses mortise and tenon structure, no nails at all.
It has stood firm for nearly 600 years, even through many earthquakes.
There is a popular legend that it has 9,999 and a half rooms.
It houses more than 1.86 million precious cultural relics.
In 1987, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Forbidden City is not just a palace. It is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture
and a timeless symbol of Chinese civilization.
Thanks for watching.
