The Meridian Gate (outside)
The Meridian Gate (inside)
The First Courtyard
The Gate of Supreme Harmony 

The Second Courtyard
The Hall of Supreme Harmony (part 1)
The Hall of Supreme Harmony (part 2)
The Hall of Complete Harmony
The Hall of Preserving Harmony 

The Large Stone Carving 

@ The Gate of Celestial Purity
The Hall of Celestial Purity
The Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union
The Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility
The Imperial Garden 

The Exhibition Halls
The 9 Dragon Screen
Other Places of Interest 

Doorways
Pots
Sculptures
Decorative Tiles
Roofs and Ceilings
Windows and Doors
Other Details 

Sunset at the Forbidden City 

Beijing Guide 

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The three halls of the Inner Court are slightly smaller scale versions of the three halls in the Outer Court.

Like the three great halls for official ceremonies, they stand along the same north-south axis on a second huge stone terrace.

The Gate of Celestial Purity

The Gate of Celestial Purity (QianQingMen), is the main gate of the Inner Court. In front of the gate, there is a courtyard which is 200 meters long from east to west and is 30 meters from north to south.

This courtyard both separates the Outer Court and the Inner Court and integrates them.

During the Qing dynasty, this was the place where emperors, while sitting on the throne set in the middle of the gate, would hear reports and make decisions. The huts to the left and right are duty rooms and waiting rooms for ministers to be interviewed.

Male lion

A closer view of the baby lion under the mother's left paw

Along the walls flanking the gate the are ten gilded bronze vats. These huge vats are both decorations and reservoirs in case of fire. Each one weighs 4 tons by itself and can hold 4 tons of water.

There are in total 308 vats in the whole Forbidden City, including 22 of this kind.

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