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Panorama of the great square (Supreme Harmony Square) between the Tai He Men and the Tai He Dian (in the center of the pan). Link to map of the Forbidden City. Here is the information about the Forbidden City on a plaque in the Tai He Men (Gate of Supreme Harmony) building. [Note that the "Imperial Palace" and "The Palace Museum" are the entire Forbidden City]

The Palace Museum

Built in 1406-1420, The Imperial Palace popularly known as the Forbidden City was the permanent residence of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Its buildings are divided into two parts. The front part or the "Outer Court" consists of Tai He Dian Hall, Zhong He Dian Hall and Bao He Dian Hall, which are taken as its main body, plus Wen Hua Dian Hall and Wu Yng Dian Hall, which are taken as its two wings, where the emperor held important ceremonies. The rear part, or the "inner court", consists of Qian Qing Gong Palace, Jiao Tai Dian Hall, Kun Ning Gong Palace, Yang Xin Dian Hall plus the six east palaces, the six west palaces and Yu Hua Yuan Garden, where the emperor handled routine affairs and he with his empress and concubines lived or spent their leisure hours.

The Imperial Palace is the largest and most complete group of ancient buildings which China has preserved to the present. It embodies the fine tradition and national style of ancient Chinese architectural art. In 1961 the Imperial Palace was listed by the State Coucil as one of "the important historical monuments under the protection of the government", and, in 1987, it was affirmed by the UNESCO as "the World Heritage".

From Ming to Qing dynasties, a total of 24 emperors lived here. The Qing dynasty was overthrown in the Revolution of 1911 from then on. As the feudal Imperial Palace, the Forbidden City completed its historical mission in 1914. The Museum of Antiquities was housed in the Outer Court. In 1925, the Palace Museum was established.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, not only the palace buildings have been repaired, but also a vast amount of work on the arrangement, restoration, collection and exhibition of precious cultural relics has been made. Today, some of the halls or palaces are kept as they were originally furnished. The others are used to exhibit special art treasures, such as jewelry, ancient paintings, bronzes, ceramics, arts and crafts, clocks and watches, etc. which show the age-old and splendid historical civilization of the Chinese nation.

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