The Forbidden City in Beijing, China Part 1

Beijing is an old city, with 5 past Chinese dynasties had made this city their capital. It is now also the capital of China.

Inside the city there is a place that everyone has to visit; the Forbidden City!

This grand palace’s name 紫禁城 (translate into the Purple Forbidden City) actually has a astronomical root.

In Ancient Chinese mythical tale, it was imagined that the Emperor of Heaven lives in the center of the cosmos, namely a place called the Purple Forbidden Palace紫微垣宮.

As for why it has the word ‘forbidden’ in its name is because ancient Chinese often referred important places like Palace as the ‘forbidden’ places that they as civilians can’t easily get into. Thus if the Chinese emperor or empress is the son or daughter of the heaven, people think he or she should also live in a Purple Palace hence the name in Chinese the紫禁城 (Purple Forbidden City).

As for why the city wall is red, that's a different story!

Have you ever been to Beijing?

If so have you visited the Forbidden City?