THE FORBIDDEN CITY, Hall Of Supreme Harmony

The Gate of Supreme Harmony will take you into a 30,000-square-meter square, dominated by the Hall of Supreme Harmony. It is the largest wooden building in China from its time to have survived, and the tallest in the Forbidden City, resting on a spectacular, ornate three-storey marble base. It dates to 1406, and has been repaired several times over the centuries. It’s a breath-taking sight!

This building is the heart of the entire complex. It’s here that the emperors used to receive high-ranking public officials and exercise their power. The Hall hosted coronation ceremonies, the emperors’ birthdays and marriages and the celebrations for the winter solstice and the Chinese New Year. 

Along the stairs leading to the terrace, you can see 18 bronze incense burners, representing the 18 provinces of China in the 15th century. On the terrace, you can see a bronze crane and tortoise, symbolizing power and longevity. The centuries-old marble sundial and the grain measure, placed at the corners, represented the emperor’s ability to administer justice fairly.

The Hall is over 35 meters tall, 64 wide and 37 long, with 72 pillars arranged into six rows supporting the roof, and windows and doors with relief decorations featuring clouds and dragons. At the ends of the roof you can see the statues of two Chiwen, dragons that had the power to drive away fire.

Now press pause and press play again inside the building....