THE FORBIDDEN CITY, Buildings West Side Iii

Not far from the six Western Palaces, you’ll find the large Hall of Mental Cultivation. The front part was where the emperor took care of administrative matters, while the rear part contained the bedrooms of the last eight emperors.

It was here that the Empress Cixi, hidden behind a screen, spent several decades imparting instructions to the Emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu, who sat on the throne, but merely repeated her orders.

Opposite the bedrooms are the imperial kitchens.

Now press pause and visit the Hall, then move on to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity complex.

This is a group of buildings that covers a surface of 46,000 square meters....