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Apart from the complex of immovable palace buildings, the Palace Museum houses over 1.5 million items or sets of relics. Over 8,000 of them are designated as first-class relics. They fall into the following categories: paintings, calligraphy, rubbings from tablets, inscriptions, sculptures, copperwares, porcelain, textile or embroidery, jade or stone wares, gold or silver wares, jewelry, lacquerworks, enamel wares, carvings, miscellaneous handiworks, stationery, daily appliances, clocks and instruments, imperial seals and certificates of the conferring of titles, religious relics, weapons carried by guards of honor, ancient books, and foreign relics.

    Ancient architectural relics and other cultural relics fall into 25 categories, which are further divided into 69 sub-categories. Those used for government affairs and daily life are displayed in their original places; such works of art as porcelain, paintings and calligraphy, jewelry, clocks, stone drums, and bronze wares are kept in special halls. There are also halls for short-term exhibitions. The museum is open to the public all year round.

Key attractions:

The Meridian Gate: This is the main gate of the Forbidden City. It sits on the north-south axis of the city. It was built in 1420, or the 18^th year of Emperor Yongle’s reign in the Ming Dynasty. It was the place where imperial edictsor calendars were issued.

The Hall of Great Harmony: This is the largest and most prestigious building in the Forbidden City. It was built in 1420. It was here that 24 Ming and Qing emperors were crowned.

The turrets: These are located at the four corners of the Forbidden City. They were built in 1420. They are so architecturally complex that, as folklore has it, each has 9 beams, 18 pillars, and 72 roof ridges.

The Hall of Heavenly Purity: This is the first of the three halls of the inner court. It was first built in 1420. fourteen emperors, from Zhudi to Zhu Youjian, had lived here.

The Hall of Military Prowess: This Hall was first built in the early Ming Dynasty. It is located to the west of the Xihe Gate of the outer court. Starting from the 40^th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, a great number of books and pictures had been printed here. Known as ‘the Hall edition’, they are highly valued for their exquisite, elegant workmanship.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation:This Hall was built during Emperor Jiajing’s reign in the Ming Dynasty. It is located to the west of the Hall of Heavenly Purity in the inner court. During the Qing Dynasty, eight emperors lived here. It was also the place where the Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci’an “held court from behind a screen”.

Address: No. 4, Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

(Source: english.visitbeijing.com.cn)