GuGong       

A glimpse at the Forbidden City. Built in 1420, Forbidden City is located in the center of Beijing. Biggest complex of its kind in the world, the Forbidden City was situated in the center of Beijing. Twenty-four Ming and Qing emperors resided there.

Occupying a rectangular area of more than 720,000 square meters, the forbidden City has four entrance gates: The main Meridian Gate(Wumen)to the south, the Eastern Flower Gate(Donghuamen), the Western Flower Gate(Xihuamen), and the Gate of Divine P rowess(Shenwumen)to the north. The palace grounds are divided into two parts: the Front Palace(Qianchao)to the south and the Inner Palace(Neiting)to the north. The Front palace consists chiefly of the three great halls--the hall of Supreme
Harmony(Taihedian), the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony(Baohedian). Here important ceremonies, such as the accession of a new emperor to the throne and the emperor's birthday and wedding, were held.

From the Gate of Heavenly Purity(Qianqingmen)northward is the Inner Palace, Including the Palace of Heavenly Purity(Qiangqingong), the Hall of Prosperity(Jiaotaidian), the Hall of Earthly Tranquillity(kunninggong), the Hall of Mental Cultivation(Yangxindian), the six eastern halls and the six western halls, the Palace of Tranquillity and Longevity(Ningshougong), and the Palace of Benevolent Peace(Cininggong). The Inner Palace was the residential area of the emperor and imperial household.