|
The Former Imperial Palace was called the Purple Forbidden City and now is the Palace Museum
|
|
It was the Imperial Palace in the Ming and Qing dynasties and is now the existing largest and best preserved ancient palace structure in China.
|
|
It was first built in 1406-1420 (4th to 18th year of reign of Emperor Yongle in Ming Dynasty)
|
|
It occupies over 720,000 square meters and has more than 9000 bays of halls and rooms.
|
|
The Palace is 760 meters wide (east to west) and 960 meters deep (north to south)
|
|
A 10 meter high wall surrounds the Palace with a 52 meter wide moat
|
|
The Palace forms a City within a City of Beijing
|
|
On the four corners of the Purple forbidden City there is a corner tower in the style of nine beams and 18 columns.
|