The Forbidden City: Preserving a National Treasure

Deep in the heart of the ancient city of Beijing lies a rectangular-shaped wonder more than 500 years old: The Forbidden City. The world’s largest palace and former home to 24 emperors is undoubtedly China’s most opulent tourist attraction and most unique historical landmark.

More than 7 million visitors every year flock to see the Forbidden City, located just north of Tiananmen Square. At almost 2.6 million square feet, the Forbidden City is more than half the size of Minnesota’s Mall of America.

It is divided into two parts:

• The Outer Court , including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where ceremonies were held.
• The Inner Court , where emperors once lived and worked, surrounded by a park lined with 300-year-old trees.

To say that extensive planning and Herculean effort went into developing the Forbidden City would be a grand understatement. In 1406, construction on the Forbidden City commenced. Fourteen short years later, China had a stunning centerpiece to call its own. Every one of the 800 buildings within the city was symmetrical; the roofs were thatched in yellow to signify royalty; and magnificent pieces of art and architecture adorned every structure.

The Min and Qing dynasties used the Forbidden City as its political and cultural epicenter. In 1912, the throne of the Last Emperor of China, Pu Yi, was abdicated and the Forbidden City became a magnificent historical monument.

However, this once stellar emblem of China’s royal history is literally crumbling, and the nation spends more than $12 million per year to put the pieces back together. Tourism has been a double-edged sword, both revitalizing and damaging the Forbidden City. Neglect and political discord have ravaged the area both inside and out. Renovations began in 2001 and are expected to continue well into 2020, as designers and engineers strive to protect the integrity of this ancient monument.

Preservation of China’s history came into question in recent years when an enormous controversy was stirred ... over a cup of coffee! In 2000, a Starbucks opened briefly in the Forbidden City, and the inhabitants surrounding it were outraged. They successfully stormed the Western coffee chain along with Kentucky Fried Chicken, and a McDonald's was moved quickly thereafter from Tiananmen Square.

Clearly, maintaining the authenticity and sustainability of China’s ancient treasure, the Forbidden City, is of paramount importance. And it appears that no amount of time, money, or outside commercial influences will keep the Forbidden City from being a wonder once again.

Factoids:

Katy, Texas, has a one-twentieth-scale model of the Forbidden City called “Forbidden Gardens.”

Every roof in the Forbidden City is painted yellow except the royal library, which is black.

Still Curious?

www.asianart.com/exhibitions/forbiddencity/intro.html
Beautiful artwork from the Dallas Museum of Art's exhibition on the Forbidden City.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City
Statistics and other information on the Forbidden City.

www.beijingservice.com/forbiddencity.htm
Photos and information on the Forbidden City.

www.china.org.cn/english/kuaixun/74855.htm
Articles and photos on the Forbidden City.

www.wjla.com/headlines/1004/183632.html
Article on the overhauling of the Forbidden City.

www.dpm.org.cn/
Official link to the Palace Museum.