Seven Wonders Of China

Written by china guide July 1st, 2010 No Comments Category: China Destinations,China Travel News

China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, deep foundation and superb human engineering has produced a vast spectacle, one of the Seven Wonders of the more famous the world, this is the Terra Cotta Warriors, Hanging Monastery, Great Wall, Leshan Buddha, Mount Wudang, Shi Bao Zhai Temple and the Forbidden City.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Terra Cotta Warriors, Hanging Monastery, Leshan Buddha, Mount Wudang, Shi Bao Zhai Temple

Forbidden City, part 2

Written by china guide May 24th, 2010 1 Comments Category: China Destinations

The first part described main attractions in Forbidden City. The part 2 will describe the exhibition halls,the nine dragon screen, doorways, pots, sculptures, decorative tiles, roofs, beams, ceilings ,windows, gargoyles, ballustrades, walls and other places of interest.

The Exhibition Halls(Chinese: 展览馆)

Some of the buildings in the forbidden city with more minor original functions have been internally converted to hold permanent, but sometimes changing, exhibitions of artefacts of various types - including clocks, ceramics, paintings and bronzes. But first, a little background.

The Imperial Studios(Chinese: 工艺美术馆)

The emperors of China retained artists and craftsmen to manufacture works of the highest quality both to please their senses and add weight to their claim of legitimacy. Under the Qing dynasty, imperial porcelain makers from JingDeZhen introduced new glazes, shapes and techniques. The imperial studios produced paintings with traditional themes such as portraiture, landscapes, birds and flowers, and religious subjects, as well as detailed representations of political ceremonies, military conquests, and imperial processions.

Unlike earlier dynasties, the Qing court also employed Jesuit artists from Europe, whose introduction of western painting techniques and aesthetics stamped the academy as a whole with a unique visual flavor.

Religious Art(Chinese: 宗教艺术)

The Qing emperors retained their sacred Manchurian traditions, performing shamanistic rituals within the seclusion of the Forbidden City. In addition, they became ardent supporters of tantric Buddhism, imported from Tibet and Mongolia. Tibetan monks, stationed at the Hall of Uprightness, were employed as artists to produce religious objects for the emperor.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Beijing, Forbidden City, Palace Museum

Forbidden City

Written by china guide May 2nd, 2010 1 Comments Category: China Destinations

Forbidden City or Palace Museum (Chinese: 紫荆城 or 故宫) , at the center of the ancient city of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, the Forbidden City is a public museum and World Heritage site, attracting millions of tourists from around the world.

In the early 1400s, the third Ming Emperor, YongLe, moved the capital of China to Beijing. In 1406, he began construction of a new 'Forbidden City' that would include the imperial palace complex.

The Forbidden City, located at the exact center of the ancient city of Beijing, was the home and center of power for 24 emperors during the mid to latter Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Forbidden City is an extremely formal place. It is almost symmetrical and hierarchically arranged so that all the important buildings run down the center, north-south. In keeping with geomancy, the main gate is in the south and the northern side is "protected" by the artificial Coal Hill. The palace contained many diversions and beautiful women, but in the summer months the emperors gladly retired to summer palaces north of Beijing—perhaps visiting the Fragrant Hills.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Beijing, Forbidden City, Palace Museum, Meridian Gate