Hall of Preserving Harmony, Imperial examination hall in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China

The Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe Dian) is the third of the three halls of the Outer Court of the Forbidden City, north of the Hall of Central Harmony. It is a rectangular hall, nine bays wide and five deep, 29.5 m high, with a double-eaved hip roof of yellow glazed tiles and nine small roof figures at each corner. Its interior uses a reduced-column method, removing six front-eave columns to open the space, and has a gilded throne beneath a Qianlong-inscribed plaque reading "Huangjian Youji". Behind it lies a carved marble ramp of cloud, dragon, sea and cliff motifs.

During the Qing Dynasty, this building served as the venue for the final stage of imperial examinations where candidates competed for government positions. These exams were a central part of the imperial system for selecting qualified officials.

The name reflects a Chinese philosophical concept about balance between heaven and earth. Visitors can see today how the nine dragon carvings on the marble ramp behind the building embody imperial power and cosmic order.

The hall stands on the three-tiered terrace north of the Hall of Central Harmony, reached by the central axis of the Forbidden City. The carved marble ramp lies on the hall's rear steps, facing the Gate of Heavenly Purity; visitors view it from the side, as the central ramp is not walked on.

The marble ramp behind the structure was carved from a single stone block and displays nine dragons representing aspects of nature and the universe. This block was so heavy that special techniques were needed to move it during construction.