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The Forbidden City was home to the Emperors of China for nearly
five centuries from the Mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing
Dynasty, during which time it was also the ceremonial and
political location of the Chinese government. Located in the
Dongcheng District in the middle of Beijing it is an excellent
place to visit and attracts visitors in their numbers all year
round as it now houses the Palace Museum and is open to the
public. The city was built between 1406 and 1420, comprising of
980 buildings and 8,707 rooms. Declared a World Heritage Site in
1987, the Forbidden City is also home to the largest collection
of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
Being situated in the middle of Beijing makes the Forbidden
City an attractive proposition for those considering a holiday
in China as staying in the area also leaves the Great Wall of
China within a day-trip’s distance.
Cheap hotels and affordable flights as well as transport
links in and around the city make the area a pleasant one to
visit. The cultural diversity and exciting cuisine also make for
a good discovery. Many of the Olympics attractions will remain
open after the Paralympics have finished, such as the swimming
pool and its competition diving boards for a fun day out.
The Forbidden City cuts an imposing and beautiful figure out
of the landscape. As soon as you enter its Meridian Gate
entrance, flanked by two protruding wings, you sense that you
are entering something special. The architecture is widely
regarded as the best example of Chinese architecture in the
world and has been the inspiration for many buildings across
central Asia. As difficult to escape as to break into, the City
was built to be impenetrable to any attacking forces and, as
such, the walls were never breached. The outer walls are 7.9
metres high and 6.6 metres wide with guard towers at each
corner. Surrounding the walls is a 6 metre deep, 52 metre wide
moat. These serve as reminders that the city was built with
defence in mind and make it a fascinating destination for lovers
of architecture and history.
The Forbidden City is another example of China’s great
ability to construct beautiful and timeless architectural
wonders, encompassing Chinese style with military might. With
the Great Wall of China not too far away, the Forbidden City
makes Beijing a good place to visit indeed.
If you are thinking of taking a trip to China then make sure
you take out some decent
travel insurance before you leave, try a reputable provider
like AA Travel for a quote.
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