Preservation Hall is a palatial-style building within the Forbidden City in Beijing. The existing main beam structure is still that of the Ming Dynasty. The hall spans nine bays in width and five in depth, with a double-eave hip roof covered in yellow glazed tiles, and nine small animals placed at both upper and lower eaves. The interior is paved with gold bricks, with a carved and gilded throne facing south. The eastern and western wings serve as warm chambers. The construction employs the column reduction method, removing six golden pillars in front of the hall, creating a spacious and comfortable space.
A carved imperial road stone, depicting clouds, dragons, seawater, and cliffs, is located in the middle of the rear steps of the hall, known as the Yunlong stone carving. During rainy days, there is a spectacular sight of thousands of dragons spouting water. The ‘thousand dragons’ refer to the thousand stone dragon heads extending from the pillars, from which rainwater drains, combining the practical function of water drainage with the aesthetic function of architectural art. The rooms on the east and west sides of the Preservation Hall have been converted into exhibition halls. The opening hours are from April 1st to October 31st, Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30-17:00; from November 1st to March 31st, Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30-16:30; closed all day on Mondays; open on New Year’s Day and Spring Festival, 08:30-16:30; and open on Qingming Festival, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day, 08:30-17:00.Preservation Hall in the Forbidden City
Preservation Hall is a palatial-style building within the Forbidden City in Beijing. The existing main beam structure is still that […]
