The Gugong ("Forbidden City") in Beijing, China

(Copyright © 2005 Piero Scaruffi | Legal restrictions - Termini d'uso )
If you would like to purchase the original, high-resolution pictures, contact me

Notes of this trip

• Imperial palace from 1420-1912
• 720,000 square meters, 800 buildings and 9,999 rooms
• The world's largest palace complex
• The largest collection of wooden structures in the world
• Construction took 14 years for an estimated 200,000 men

Gugong's layout (up=north, down=towards Tianan Men and Tiananmen Square and Qian Men):

Tiananmen (the first gate)

Tiananmen (the first gate)

Tiananmen (the first gate)

Tiananmen (the first gate)

Tiananmen (the first gate)

Tiananmen (the second gate)

Gugong (Forbidden City): Wumen (massive entrance gate surmounted by five pavilions)

Gugong: Wumen

Gugong: Wumen

Gugong: Wumen

Gugong: Wumen

Gugong: Taihemen's courtyard

Gugong: The marble bridges

Gugong: The marble bridges

Gugong: The marble bridges

Gugong: Five marble bridges and Wumen

Gugong: Taihemen

Gugong: Taihemen

Gugong: Back of the Taihemen

Gugong: Taihedian

Gugong: Taihedian's courtyard

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian's staircase

Gugong: Taihedian

Gugong: Taihedian (bronze tortoise)

Gugong: Taihedian

Gugong: Taihedian (bronze burner)

Gugong: Taihedian (doors)

Gugong: Taihedian (inside)

Gugong: Taihedian (carved column)

Gugong: Taihedian (ceiling)

Gugong: Taihedian (detail of door)

Gugong: Taihedian (detail of roof)

Gugong: Taihedian (detail of roof)

Gugong: Taihedian (detail of staircase)

Gugong: Zhonghedian & Baohedian from the Taihedian

Gugong: Zhonghedian

Gugong: Northwest corner of the courtyard

Gugong: Stairs to the Zhonghedian

Gugong: Stairs to the Zhonghedian

Gugong: Baohedian (site of palace examination

Gugong: Baohedian

Gugong: Baohedian's southern stairs

Gugong: Baohedian's southern stairs

Gugong: Baohedian's southern stairs

Gugong: View northeast

Gugong: View from the north side of the Baohedian

Gugong: Marble screen of the north stairs

Gugong: Marble screen of the north staircase of the Baohedian

Gugong: Marble screen of the north staircase of the Baohedian

Gugong: Qianqingmen

Gugong: Qianqingmen

Gugong: Qianqingmen

Gugong: Qianqinggong

Gugong: Stairs to Qianqinggong

Gugong: Miniature temple

Gugong: Stairs to Qianqinggong

Gugong: Stairs to Qianqinggong

Gugong: Miniature temple

Gugong: Qianqinggong

Gugong: Jiaotaidian

Gugong: Jiaotaidian

Gugong: Jiaotaidian's water clock of 500BC

Gugong: Jiaotaidian's ceiling

Gugong: Garden

Gugong: Garden

Gugong: Garden

Gugong: Garden

Gugong: Garden

Gugong: Garden

Gugong: Garden

Back to Monuments | Back to China | Back to Beijing

(Copyright © 2005 Piero Scaruffi | Legal restrictions - Termini d'uso )
If you would like to purchase the original, high-resolution pictures, contact me