Forbidden City | Beijing, China

[hkskyline]

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/worldphotos/beijing/beijing09.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/worldphotos/beijing/beijing08.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/worldphotos/beijing/beijing07.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/worldphotos/beijing/beijing06.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/worldphotos/beijing/beijing05.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/worldphotos/beijing/beijing01.jpg

[Gerard]

Been there and in real life even more imporessive than can be captured on film.
9/10

[Pimp]

9 /10 A real tresure!

[ROYU]

is very good 9

[tinsoldier]

The Manchurian Qing palace is the least attractive of all the dynasties.

[redstone]

It was built by Hans in the Ming dynasty!;)

[oduguy1999]

simply amazing

[tinsoldier]

It was built by Hans in the Ming dynasty!

-------------

Yes, but largely rebuilt and refurbished by Manchurians. All the decorations reveals a Manchurian taste. And it is a mixed style of Manchurian, Chinese, Mid-Asian, and Tibetan. Mixed, but not in a sophisticated way

[HK Boy]

http://210.75.208.159/eolympic/ztq/Download-photos/A%20Tower%20in%20the%20Forbidden%20City.jpg

[snake]

Forbidden City was NOT largely rebuilt and refurbished by Manchurians, it was mostly kept intact to its original style built in Ming Dynasty. Manchurians as normadic people, didn't hold too much sophisticated building techniques. Manchurians built many royal gardens especially the Summer Palace and the burned Yuanming Garden. No surprise those were Han style too. Actually Qing was the most Sino-nize normadic ruler in Chinese history. Qianglong Emperor wrote most number of Chinese poems probably in history, and he liked the architecture of Southern China so much so copied whole street in the Summer Palace and called it Suzhou street.

A trivia, there are 9999 houses in the Forbidden City. So more Forbidden City
http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A982C0.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A982C7.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A982F4.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A982F9.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98300.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98307.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9830F.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98314.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9831A.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98321.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9832D.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98335.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9833A.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98340.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98349.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9834E.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98354.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98358.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98363.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9836B.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9837E.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98381.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98388.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98392.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98396.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9839E.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A983A5.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A983AF.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A983B9.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A983BF.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98420.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9842A.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9842C.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98440.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9845D.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98463.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98469.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9846F.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98473.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98476.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9847C.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98486.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A9848F.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A98495.002C

http://forum.xinhuanet.com/upfiles/00A984A0.002C

[SeeMacau]

Stunning indeed !! 10/10

[the spliff fairy]

Its a shame the palace was seccessively looted (and parts destroyed) by foreign colonial powers after the Opium Wars and Boxer Uprising, also whole inventories stolen by corrupt eunuch officials. Finally all its remaining treasures were taken by the fleeing nationalist govt during the civil war and transported around the country by train for years. The fraction of that that was saved now ranks as one of the greatest museums, the Imperial Palace Museum in Taipei. The current govt has slowly been trying to fill the worlds largest palace again with other treasures from around China, but the process is understandably slow. The whole complex runs on a 40 year restoration cycle continuously - by the time the first cycle is completed its time to start again.

Edit* there are rumours that 'China's Versailles' may be rebuilt, the former European style Summer palace that was destroyed by European troops in the 19th Century. Also parts of the Ming City Walls, the largest ever built and demolished earlier in the last century in the name of modernisation.

Beijing has lost so much to history - traditionally with each successive dynasty eradicating the symbols of the last one, last seen in the Cultural Revolution. Before that when the Nationalist govt took over from the Qing Dynasty a similar fate followed - in the 1930s Beijing had over 3000 monuments, palaces and temples - by 1950 that had been reduced to 300.

[Hardouin-Mansart]

When its 600-year glory is recomposed... I will probably still think the same

4

[Flatiron]

My Goodness, what a sophisticated person you must be. Why, I'll bet you spend your days in a white-on-white interior by Meis van der Rohe, sipping delicately at cups of pale green tea and contemplating the petals of a single perfect ghost orchid, now don't you.

[DamienK]

9/10

[km-sh]

10+++++++++++++++++++++

[Fabio]

10/10

it's huge and awesome

[DRAKKO]

8/10

[Phobos]

10/10

This is masterpiece of traditional chinese architecture.

[Ellatur]

10/10! this palace probably modeled for a lot of other asian palaces too

[forvine]

9.5/10 HUGE place

[Sinjin P.]

9.5/10

[El_Greco]

9/10

[dżimi pejdż]

9/10

[Mosaic]

10/10

[ThePersian]

10/10
simply stunning
i must see this place in my lifetime

[crossbowman]

10/10
Fantastic!

[Valia]

10/10

charming place, one masterpiece of the traditional chinese architecture

[virarch]

5/10

Despite its long standing fame, the Forbidden City is actually vastly inferior to European palaces in artistic, architectural and technological sophistication.

Despite its grand size, the Forbidden City consists mainly of 3 components - aesthetically unappealing temple structures (of different sizes), spartan walls (of different heights), and carved white marble fences.

There's a certain degree of elegance to it due to the use of only 3 colors - red, white and yellow.

But overall it compares poorly to European palaces, castles and other architectures of smaller scales, including those built hundreds of years before it. Its notable flaws include bad proportions, lack of variety and creativity, primitive gates, walls and interior, and poor functionality ... to name a few.

Because of Chinese Communist Party's prolonged nationalist campaigns and China's traditional self-centeredness, many Chinese today think of the Forbidden City as the best ancient palace in the world even though they know very little about their own architectures and practically nothing about ancient European architectures.

Like the Long Wall (aka the Great Wall), the Forbidden City impresses mostly thru its size and scale. If you examine its individual components more closely, you'll find that its architectural merits are quite modest and the palace has left a lot to be desired.

[Jiangwho]

MORE
http://www.sinomaps.com/luntan/non-cgi/usr/23/23_47_11.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_027.jpg



http://images.beijing-2008.org/90/28/Img211622890.jpg


http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531115542872.jpg



http://www.geocities.co.jp/Technopolis-Mars/3773/kokyu-5.JPG



http://news.dahew.com/China/10101/2005/12/28/images/10101_20051228_219.jpg



http://news.dahew.com/China/10101/2005/12/28/images/10101_20051228_218.jpg



http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531120423799.jpg



http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531120424611.jpg



http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531115414439.jpg



http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531115542731.jpg



http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531115413283.jpg



http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531115418970.jpg



http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531115416720.jpg



http://222.88.88.191/tp/北京/东城/故宫/2006531114010639.jpg



http://www.88trip.com/beijing/故宫.files/故宫1.jpg



http://my.opera.com/vvgloo/homes/albums/12261/thumbs/故宫.jpg_thumb.jpg



http://www.lifeweek.com.cn/2005-10-11/images/7742.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_002.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_004.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_005.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_007.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_008.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_009.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_011.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_014.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_017.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_018.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_022.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_024.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_026.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_031.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_034.jpg



http://www.bofoto.com/upfiles/05012102.jpg



http://www.bofoto.com/upfiles/05012101.jpg


http://www.jsdj.com/luyou/tp2/bjgg42.jpg





http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_035.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_037.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_041.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_046.jpg



http://www.wallcoo.com/human/tian_an_men/mxxx01/K6-003.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_045.jpg



http://online.sc-cn.net/img2/025/GG2300_042.jpg

[clarky]

10/10

[zee]

10/10 by far

[Peloso]

10/10
In-freakin-credible

[LordMarshall]

10/10

[sharpie20]

10/10

[Stiggen]

8,5/10

[gutooo]

10!

[delmaule]

9/10

[W!CKED]

9/10

[Kelsen]

11/10! AMAZING :eek:

[Purple Dreams]

5/10

Like the Long Wall (aka the Great Wall), the Forbidden City impresses mostly thru its size and scale. If you examine its individual components more closely, you'll find that its architectural merits are quite modest and the palace has left a lot to be desired.

I kind of agree with you in the sense that what I found most impressive is its size and scale. I wouldn't quite say that I found the architecture modest or lacking though, but I did find it a little repetitive. Unless it was because I was just tired to appreciate the differences.

[devlin]

Awesome 9.5/10

[alsen]

definitely 10/10

[marpa]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Forbidden_city_03.jpg/800px-Forbidden_city_03.jpg

http://www.corante.com/mooreslore/archives/images/beijing-forbidden-city.jpg
wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City)

10/10

[LMCA1990]

10/10

[Nikkodemo]

10/10

[Mateus_]

9.5/10

[henry hill]

10/10 Icon!

[SilentStrike]

10/10

[tonyssa]

9.5/10

[Hasse78]

Not many buildings here get´s a topscore (10) from me but this is the one of them. Simply amazing. (Yes I know there are hundreds building here but I count it as one complex) ;)

[deepblue01]

Its quite an icon to have in the city. Looks like the Chinese have always had a history of excellent city planning. Both the forbidden city and the temple of heaven features symmetrical themed layouts, something seen quite often in today's urban planning.

[ainttelling]

5/10

Despite its long standing fame, the Forbidden City is actually vastly inferior to European palaces in artistic, architectural and technological sophistication.

Despite its grand size, the Forbidden City consists mainly of 3 components - aesthetically unappealing temple structures (of different sizes), spartan walls (of different heights), and carved white marble fences.

There's a certain degree of elegance to it due to the use of only 3 colors - red, white and yellow.

But overall it compares poorly to European palaces, castles and other architectures of smaller scales, including those built hundreds of years before it. Its notable flaws include bad proportions, lack of variety and creativity, primitive gates, walls and interior, and poor functionality ... to name a few.

Because of Chinese Communist Party's prolonged nationalist campaigns and China's traditional self-centeredness, many Chinese today think of the Forbidden City as the best ancient palace in the world even though they know very little about their own architectures and practically nothing about ancient European architectures.

Like the Long Wall (aka the Great Wall), the Forbidden City impresses mostly thru its size and scale. If you examine its individual components more closely, you'll find that its architectural merits are quite modest and the palace has left a lot to be desired.
You offer stretchy, yet interesting analysis. But I consider the Forbidden City to be a breath of fresh air compared to the eurokitsch I had to endure for being culturally European. And also you are very wrong regarding technological sophistication - if you think Chinese architecture lacks sophistication you don't know Chinese architecture. Of all historical styles, the East Asian styles are perhaps the most technologically sophisticated ones and I'd welcome anyone to try to prove me wrong.

[Jan Del Castillo]

10. Excellent. Regards.