Fossils indicate that Peking Man lived here. Beijing’s history stretches back millennia. But today our story is about \u5357\u4e8c\u7826.
Beijing earned the name \”North Capital\” in 1403. Before that, it was Jicheng and Yanjing. It was also Nanjing and Dadu.
Beijing became the capital for the Yuan Dynasty in 1271. It also served as the Ming and Qing Dynasty capital. Later it was the Republic of China capital. Finally in 1949, it became the capital for the People’s Republic of China.
Did you know Beijing is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites? The Great Wall is one. The Forbidden City is another. So are the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Let’s not forget the Ming Tombs. Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian and the Grand Canal round out the list.
Beijing’s Forbidden City is the largest palace in the world. It shows traditional Chinese architecture.
The Forbidden City was built in 1406. It took 14 years to complete. Over 9,000 rooms fill its vast area.
Emperor Yongle wanted to solidify his power. So he moved the capital to Beijing. He felt safer here. To supply the city, the Grand Canal was rebuilt. This allowed materials to be transported.
The Forbidden City was designed like an onion. The emperor and his family lived in the center. This inner court was protected by walls and a moat.
Around the Forbidden City was the Imperial City. Court officials lived and worked there. The Inner City surrounded the Imperial City. Finally, the Outer City was added to the south. All these layers shielded the emperor.
The Forbidden City has 980 buildings. Legend says there were once 9,999 rooms. The northern part was the inner court. The southern part was the outer court.
From 1420 to 1644, the Forbidden City was the Ming Dynasty’s seat. However, lightning struck three main halls nine months after its completion. The emperor feared heaven’s disapproval.
Rebel armies captured the Forbidden City in 1644. They set fire to parts of it. The last Ming emperor hanged himself.
The Qing Dynasty then took over. They renamed some buildings to emphasize harmony. The Forbidden City was rebuilt under their rule.
English and French troops occupied the Forbidden City in 1860. Empress Dowager Cixi fled during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.
In 1912, the Forbidden City was no longer the emperor’s palace. Puyi, the last emperor, abdicated. The outer court became open to the public.
The Forbidden City became the Palace Museum in 1925. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the world’s largest collection of historic wooden structures.
The Chinese now call the Forbidden City Gugong. It means Former Palace.
The Forbidden City is a must-see attraction. It is a lasting legacy of ancient wisdom. Its walls have witnessed centuries of Chinese history.