THE MORNING WALK WITHIN THE BEIJING PALACE MUSEUM
500 years ago, traditional Chinese art, with a rich concentration on architecture and artifacts dominated the Ming and Qing imperial courts and this will be the subject of our discovery for the day.
From
where we are staying in Beijing, a walking distance in meters to be specific,
is the world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Forbidden City. We were getting used to the cold morning
breeze as we walk. As soon as we reached
the walled compound and entered through a Chinese arch, the vibe of an old
imperial community emanated as if I am a part of a Chinese-inspired epic film.
The
flock of visitors was apparent with stalls of souvenirs on the corner before
another walled compound that requires entrance fees came into view. That wall compound is the Palace Museum.
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| THE SQUARE LEADING TO THE PALACE MUSEUM |
Housed
in the Forbidden City, listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved
ancient wooden structures in the world, the Palace Museum served as the home of
the Emperor and his household and the ceremonial and political center of
Chinese government for almost five centuries.
The
frozen moats and the traditional Chinese palatial architecture came into view
as soon as we entered a tunnel-like entrance.
The complex was indeed vast and photogenic. Every corner has a good vantage point for
photography.
We
entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony and continued the walk from one hall to
another. Over a million rare and
valuable works of art compose the permanent collection of the Palace
Museum. Since it would be impossible for
us to witness all these collections housed in varied halls, we were contented
on the exteriors and the intricate doors of the structures that surround.
As a
pioneer in traditional Chinese palatial architecture, the Palace Museum has
influenced East Asia and the rest of the world in terms of its cultural and
architectural development.
Apart
from the palaces, there are gardens as well that adds aesthetic value to the
vast complex. It is a sanctuary in itself. There are benches available for a short break
from walking and toilets are easy to locate.
The Palace Museum is tourist friendly without compromising the ancient
civilization vibe.
We
have given ourselves a time limit of two hours to wander. But of course, it wasn’t followed. We decided to end the walk as soon as the
time strikes at noon and we felt our stomach complaining.
The Palace Museum
4
Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng, Beijing, China
Admission
fees vary on season. April to October at
CNY 60 and November to the next March at CNY 40. The colder the season the lower the admission
fees.
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