How many rooms are there in the Forbidden City? Uncovering the Mystery of the Forbidden City’s Numbers
As the royal palace of China's Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City has always been the focus of attention for domestic and foreign tourists. In the past 10 days, the discussion about the number of rooms in the Forbidden City has once again become a hot topic. This article will combine historical information and the latest data to solve this mystery for you.
1. Historical records of the number of rooms in the Forbidden City
Regarding the number of rooms in the Forbidden City, the most widely circulated saying in history is "9999 and a half rooms." This number originates from the worship of "nine" in ancient culture, symbolizing the supremacy of imperial power. The following is a compilation of relevant historical records:
| Source | Record time | number of rooms |
|---|---|---|
| "Records of the Ming Dynasty" | Ming Dynasty | About 8,700 rooms |
| "Qing Palace Archives" | Qing Dynasty | More than 9,800 rooms |
| folklore | Ming and Qing Dynasties | 9999 and a half rooms |
2. Accurate data of modern statistics
According to the "Census of Ancient Palace Buildings" project launched by the Palace Museum in 2012, the latest data released after five years of comprehensive measurements are as follows:
| Building type | Quantity (room) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| palace | 980 | Including major buildings such as the Hall of Supreme Harmony |
| hall | 8728 | Various functional buildings |
| verandah | 1100 | Corridors connecting buildings |
| Others | 200 | Including warehouses and other auxiliary buildings |
| total | 11008 | Actual measurement data |
3. Why is there the saying "9999 and a half rooms"?
Regarding the origin of this mysterious number, experts gave the following explanation:
1. Cultural symbol: In ancient times, it was believed that Ziweiyuan, where the Emperor of Heaven lived, had ten thousand palaces, and the emperor on earth could not overstep it, so half of it was missing.
2. Statistical method: The ancient calculation method is different from the modern one. Multiple connected rooms are counted as one room.
3. Special architecture: The stairwell of Wenyuan Pavilion is counted as a "half room", forming a unique saying
4. Other amazing data about the Forbidden City architecture
In addition to the number of rooms, the architectural data of the Forbidden City are also shocking:
| Project | data | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Covered area | 720,000 square meters | Equivalent to 101 standard football fields |
| city wall length | 3400 meters | 10 meters high and 8.62 meters wide |
| Construction era | 1406-1420 | It took 14 years to build |
| Cultural relics collection | 1.86 million pieces | Accounting for 41% of the country’s precious cultural relics |
5. Hot topics about the Forbidden City in the past 10 days
According to Internet popularity monitoring, recent public attention to the Forbidden City has mainly focused on the following aspects:
1. Newly opened areas in the Forbidden City: The opening of areas such as the Jianfu Palace Garden triggered heated discussions
2. Digital Forbidden City: New technology applications such as VR tours have received wide acclaim
3. Cultural and creative products: The newly launched "Forbidden City Shangyuan Night" series of peripheral products is selling hot
4. Cultural relic protection: the latest progress of the Yangxin Hall overhaul project
6. Tips for visiting the Forbidden City
1. Best time: When the door opens at 8:30 a.m. on weekdays when there are the fewest people
2. Must-see attractions: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Palace of Qianqing, Treasure Museum
3. Hidden routes: There are relatively few tourists in the East and West Liugong areas
4. Special reminder: The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays (except legal holidays)
As the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structure complex in the world, the Forbidden City's architectural wisdom and cultural value far exceed simple numerical statistics. Next time you visit, you might as well count them for yourself and feel the grandeur of this 600-year-old palace.
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