The Hall of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City -- Beijing Destination Guide

The Hall of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City - 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 Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City The Hall of Supreme Harmony is also nicknamed "the Throne Hall". It was first built in 1406, but the present structure dates back to 1695, during Emperor Kangxi's reign. It was repaired in 1765 and repainted under Yuan Shikai, a warlord and restored very recently. Since the Qing Emperors were all Manchurians, the inscriptions on all the palace halls were both in Chinese and Manchurian, as still can be seen in the inner courts. Why, then, was the inscription of this hall in Chinese only?

There's something interesting about this. In 1911, after the Qing Dynasty fell, the last Qing Emperor Puyi was allowed to stay in the Inner Court. The Outer Court, however, was taken over by the so called "Democratic Government". In 1915, Yuan Shikai, a warlord, wanted to be the emperor. He was preparing for his enthronement when he ordered all the Manchurian inscriptions in the outer court to be removed. But he was overthrown only 83 days after he ascended the throne and the inscriptions here became a witness to his scandal.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City Three flights of marble steps lead up to the terrace; in the middle of the central flight is a Huge Stone Carving in the design of "dragons playing with pearls", over which the emperors sedan chairs were carried. On the terrace, at the east corner was a sun-dial; At the west corner stands a small temple in which the grain measure was kept. The sun-dial and grain measure are both symbols of rectitude and fairness. Surrounding the hall are 18 bronze incense burners, representing China's 18 provinces at that time; the 308 water vats around the palace were used to protect it against fire.

The hall of Supreme Harmony is 35 metres high, 60 metres wide and 33 metres on both sides. It is now the largest, best preserved wooden hall in China. Twenty-four pillars support the roof; the central six are gilded and painted in the design of dragons, the rest are painted red. The Emperor's throne, which is surrounded by art treasures of symbolic significance, is in the middle of the hall. Above the throne is a gold painted caisson, or coffered ceiling, with dragon designs, from which hangs a spheric pearl called the Xuanyuan Mirror . This pearl was supposed to be able to distinguish right from wrong. The warlord Yuan Shikai was afraid that the pearl in the caisson may fall and hit him; he ordered the throne to be moved slightly backward. This is why you see the throne is not directly under the caisson.

This hall was used for great ceremonies, like the celebration of Winter Solstice, the publication of the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations, the emperor's birthday and enthronement.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City Just imagine the majestic and awesome scene in the past. When the emperor sat on the throne, the ministers and all their subordinates would kneel down, kowtow and chant aloud "Long Live Your Majesty", with incense burning and curling up in the hall, and the sound of bells ringing and drums beating in unison in the corridor.

Each of the 24 pillars supporting the hall was made from one piece of wood, about 18 metres high. What's more, it took 136 days to bake the floor tiles before they were immersed in tung oil for another 49 days to be polished.

To maintain the palace during the Qing Dynasty, 280,000 taels of silver were needed each year. They came from taxes and royal estate rents. During the Ming Dynasty, 9,000 ladies-in-waiting and 100,000 eunuchs served here. Some eunuchs like Wei Zhongxian in the Ming Dynasty and Li Lianying in the Qing Dynasty became even more powerful than the emperor.

| 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 |