Forbidden City, Imperial palace complex in central Beijing, China
The Forbidden City extends across 72 hectares with 980 buildings containing 8,707 rooms surrounded by a 10-meter high wall and a 52-meter wide moat.
Construction began in 1406 under Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, serving as the imperial residence and political center for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The palace layout follows Chinese architectural principles with symmetrical arrangement of halls and courtyards, including the three main halls: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and Hall of Preserving Harmony.
Entry tickets require advance reservation through official channels, with the palace museum opening from 8:30 AM and closing at 5:00 PM during peak season from April through October.
The complex holds the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures worldwide, featuring yellow glazed roof tiles and red walls reserved exclusively for imperial use.
Location: Donghuamen Subdistrict
Location: Dongcheng District
Inception: 1420
Architects: Kuai Xiang
Official opening: 1923
Part of: Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang, Imperial City
Address: 4 Jing Shan Qian Jie, Dong Cheng Qu, Bei Jing Shi, China, 100009 100009
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08:30-17:00; October 16-April 15 08:30-16:30
Phone: +864009501925
Website: https://intl.dpm.org.cn/?l=fr
GPS coordinates: 39.91583,116.39083
Latest update: June 10, 2025 16:58
Photo license: CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo license: CC BY 2.0
Military buildings from different countries demonstrate the evolution of defense structures and command centers. The buildings range from medieval fortresses to modern military facilities and document significant events in military architecture.
These palaces serve as official seats for monarchs and presidents. The buildings combine historical architecture with political function and document the evolution of state power. The rooms and gardens showcase various architectural styles and political periods of their respective countries.
Beijing combines ancient palaces with modern architecture. The city offers photographers a mix of Ming Dynasty buildings, Buddhist temples, Olympic venues, and contemporary art galleries. From the Great Wall to the Bird's Nest stadium, numerous subjects await the camera.
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