Forbidden City

Definitions

A palace of the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty located in Dongcheng district, Beijing, China.

Equivalents

5 more languages

日本語紫禁城

한국어자금성

PortuguêsCidade Proibida

РусскийЗапретный город

Tiếng Việtcung cấmTử Cấm Thành

Examples

“The northern division of Peking consists of three inclosures one within another, each surrounded by its own⟳ wall. The first contains the imperial palace and the abodes of the different members of the imperial household ;[...] The first inclosure, which is called the forbidden city, being the seat of ‘ the dragon’s throne,’ the place⟳ from which emanates the authority that governs one-third of mankind, is the most splendid, as well as the most important part of Peking. According to the notions of a Chinese, all within its walls is gold and silver.”

“And within the Imperial city was the moated Forbidden city, with walls two and one-quarter miles long, plastered with a violet-coloured mortar, whence comes the popular name⟳ of the Purple city. The Forbidden city contained the Imperial palaces, which have⟳ been converted into a museum.”

“During the Tang Dynasty 12 centuries ago, even the Forbidden City in Peiping would stay⟳ open⟳ for three days to allow⟳ ordinary citizens to observe⟳ the Lantern Festival.”

“Finally, in October, P'eng was moved from his quarters in the Chungnanhai area of the Forbidden City, where Mao, Liu Shao-ch’i and other Politburo members lived, to a dilapidated house in the Wu Chia Hua Yuan (Wu Family Garden), a compound within the Yuan Ming Park⟳ on the northern outskirts of Peking.”

“The wall surrounding the Chung Nan Hai is high and wide, painted vermilion in keeping with the decor of the Forbidden City. It has a circumference of many miles, intersected at intervals by gates guarded day and night by armed soldiers.”

“After we toured the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, I held a question-and-answer session with students at Beijing University.”

“Those lucky visitors may be able to discover⟳ whether there is any truth to the legend that the Forbidden City, which was the home of China's emperors between 1420 and 1912, is haunted by ghosts who come⟳ out just at night. Usually only VIPs — such as President Trump in 2017 — get⟳ to venture into the Forbidden City at night.”

CEFR level