The Mysteries of the Palace Roofs - Beijing Destination Guide


	Home \| Coach Tour \| Private Tour \| Hutong Tour \| China Tour \| Chauffeur Service \| Hotel Booking \| Tailor-made Tour

Beijing General Information

Sight-Seeing in Beijing

Shopping & Market

Food & Cuisine in Beijing

Nightlife in Beijing

Travel Tips

Tour Packages in Beijing

Hotels Reservation

Home

< Great Wall Hiking Tours

< Forbidden City Tours

< Temple of Heaven Tours

< Summer Palace Tours

< Ming Tombs Tours

< Old Hutong Tours

< Panda Beijng Zoo Tours

< Lama Temple Tours

< Small Group Bus Tours

< Beijing Private Tours

< Night Show Tours

< China Join-in Tours

< Beijing Airport Transfer

< Car-Van-Coach Rental

< Xingang Transfer

< Xingang--Beijing Tours

< Shanghai City Tours

< Xi'an City Tours

< Guilin City Tours

The Mysteries of the Palace Roofs

The Mysteries of the Palace Roofs The roofs of the Chinese Palace buildings deserve special attention. Originally the roofs were made mostly of wood, and to prevent the tiles from sliding, wooden nails were used. However, without lightning rods, the palace roof would easily catch fire. Therefore, some alchemists suggested that symbols of the fish-tail star could be installed on the roof to prevent fire. Later, these symbols were replaced by glazed tiles which were shaped like lucky animals, some of these imaginary.

On the roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, there is an immortal riding a phoenix, followed by a dragon, a phoenix, a lion, a heavenly steed, a sea horse, a suanni, a yayu, a xiezhi, a douniu and a hangshi. This was actually the fixed pattern for the order of the animals. Significantly, the number of animals on the roof shows the seniority of the building, which in turn referred to the seniority of the owner. The greater the number, the higher the positon. As we know, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was the throne hall, so it had the most animals on the roof. No other buildings in the country should have more animals on the roof.

The other buildings in the Forbidden City are less important, therefore, the number of small animals on the roof are reduced. The reduction would always start from the rear, first hangshi, then douniu and so on. For example, the Palace of Heavenly Purity where the emperor lived and dealt with state affairs, was just after the Hall of Supreme Harmony in importance, therefore only hangshi was taken away. The Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the residence of the Ming Empresses and the wedding room of the Emperors, was even less important, therefore, hangshi, douniuand xiezhi were missing from the roof.

The animals on the roof were all auspicious characters in Chinese myths, used here to protect the emperors and bring good luck to the palace and ensure the stability of the country. More interestingly, the roofs, more specifically the glazed tiles, for most of the imperial palaces are yellow, and yellow has long been used as an imperial colour. The ancient Chinese believed that the world was made up of five elements, namely, metal, wood, water, fire and earth, and yellow represents the earth, which for a long time was considered the center of the universe by our ancestors.

However, the roofs for the Imperial Library (Wen Yuan Ge), east of the Gate of Supreme Harmony, where the famous 36,000 volume Si Ku Quan Shu was kept are black glazed tiles. Black also has something to do with the theory of five elements, representing water, and it thought to be able to prevent fire from destroying the library.

The South Three Abodes (Nan San Suo) were the residences for the Qing princes, located near the Imperial Kitchen and Tea House. The roofs are green, strictly following the rule for the living quarters of the princes.

Color, like the animals on the roofs of the imperial palace, also indicated the social status of the owners.

| Back |

---

Beijing Forbidden City Tours

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace Bus Tour --- from US$ 30
Classic City Bus Tour, visit Beijing's highlight attractions to touch the face of the metropolitan city on this one-day tour. Departure: daily.

Half Day Forbidden City Private Tour --- from US$ 38
This half day private tour covers the trip to Forbidden City, enjoy your own car or van with your own tour guide and driver.

Badaling Great Wall, Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Bus Tour --- from US$ 41
Not have much leisure time, but eager to catch the highlights of Beijing, join this, enjoy the three most popular scenic spots in a one-day bus tour. Departure: daily.

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven Private Day Tour --- from US$ 45
This 1 day private highlight city tour covers the trip to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, enjoy your own car or van with your own tour guide and driver.

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Summer Palace Private Day Tour --- from US$ 46
Highlight one day private tour covers the trip to 3 of the 6 major sites in Beijing. Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace.

Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & the Summer Palace Private Day Tour --- from US$ 50
Classic one day private tour package covers the trip to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, enjoy your own car or van with your own tour guide and driver.

Badaling Great Wall, Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City Private Day Tour --- from US$ 50
This 1 day private tour covers the trip to the most popular sites of Badaling Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Fobidden City, enjoy your own car or van with your own tour guide and driver.

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Bird's Nest & Water Cube Private Day Tour --- from US$ 60
This 1 day private tour covers the trip to iananmen Square, Forbidden City and Olympic Venues: the Bird's Nest & Water Cube.

3-Day Beijing Private Tour Package --- from US$ 71
3-day private tour package covers airport transfer & the trip to the attractions: Badaling Great Wall, Summer Palace, Peking Duck Dinner, Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City.

4-Day Beijing Private Tour Package --- from US$ 92
4-day private tour package covers airport transfer & the trip to the attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Badaling Great Wall, Ming tombs & Peking Duck Dinner

Beijing Classic 2-Day Private Tour Package --- from US$ 104
The 2-day private tour package covers the trip to the attractions: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace.

Special 4-Day Private Tour Package --- from US$ 105
Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Beijing Mongolian Hot Pot, Chinese Acrobatics Show, Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Wangfujing Walking Street, Donghuamen Cuisines Street, Temple of Heaven, Imperial Court Food.

5-Day Beijing Private Tour Package --- from US$ 112
5-day private tour package covers airport transfer & the trip to the attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Chinese Kungfu show, Badaling Great Wall, Ming tombs, Peking Duck Dinner, Summer Palace & Beijing Hutong by rickshaw

Popular 5-Day Private Tour Package --- from US$ 126
Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Peking Roast Duck, Acrobatics Show, Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Temple of Heaven, Imperial Court Food, Beihai Park, Jingshan Park, Wangfujing Walking Street, Donghuamen Cuisines Stree.

4-Day Kaichuang Golden Street Business Hotel Coach Tour Package --- from US$ 151
Pick up from airport to hotel, join 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour & Including 3-night Kaichuang Golden Street Business Hotel(3 star, including breakfast) accommodation & Pick up from hotel to the airport.

4 Day Beijing LuSongYuan Hotel Tour Package --- from US$ 187
Stay in the most distinctive courtyard, Beijng LuSongYuan Hotel. Pick up from airport to hotel, join 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour & Including 3-night hotel accommodation, then pick up from hotel to the airport.

Xingang to Beijing 2-Day Private Tour Package --- from US$ 194
Pick up from Xingang to Beijing, 2-day private tour package covers the trip to the attractions: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs. Then transfer from hotel to Xingang Port.

4 Day Jianguo Garden Hotel Tour Package --- from US$ 220
Pick up from airport to hotel, join 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour & Including 3-night Jianguo Garden Hotel (5 star, including breakfast) accommodation & Pick up from hotel to the airport.

4-Day Beijing Wangfujing Grand Hotel Tour Package --- from US$ 224
Pick up from airport to hotel, join 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour & Including 3-night Beijing Wangfujing Grand Hotel (5 star, including breakfast) accommodation, then pick up from hotel to the airport.

Xingang to Beijing & 1-night in Beijing LuSongYuan Hotel Private Tour Package --- from US$ 231
Pick up from Xingang to Beijing, stay in the most distinctive courtyard, Beijng LuSongYuan Hotel 1 night and 2-day private tour package covers the trip to the attractions: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs. Then transfer from hotel to Xingang Port.

Xingang to Beijing & 1-night in Wangfujing Grand Hotel Private Tour Package --- from US$ 246
Pick up from Xingang to Beijing, stay in Beijing Wangfujing Grand Hotel 1 night and 2-day private tour package covers the trip to the attractions: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs. Then transfer from hotel to Xingang Port.

Beijing to Xingang 4-Day Beijing LuSongYuan Hotel Coach Tour Package --- from US$ 247
Pick up from Beijing airport, stay in the most distinctive courtyard, Beijng LuSongYuan Hotel 3 nights and 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour, then transfer to Xingang Port in Tianjin.

Beijing to Xingang 4-Day Wangfujing Grand Hotel Coach Tour Package --- from US$ 288
Pick up from Beijing airport, stay in Beijing Wangfujing Grand Hotel 3 nights and 2-day Beijing Badaling Great Wall & Forbidden City Coach Tour, then transfer to Xingang Port in Tianjin.

More Beijing Tours

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

Copyright © since 2000 BeijingLocalTour.com. All rights reserved.
Booking Hotline: 86-10-64334033, 86-10-84569637
Mobile Hotline (24 hours): 86-13522888380, 13801051196
Fax: 86-10-64382877, 86-10-64364332, US Fax: 1-760-4656711
Address: No.1206, Building 5, Tuofangying Xili, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016
For Reservation & Tour Enquiry: tour@beijinglocaltour.com
For any questions or suggestions about website tech, please contact: webmaster@beijinglocaltour.com

| Terms of Use and Privacy Policy |