| Description |  |
In the Ming Dynasty it was known as Gong Hou Yan (Garden in the Rear of the Palace), and since the Qing Dynasty it has been known as the Imperial Palace. The garden is 130 meters wide from east to west, and 90 meters from north to south, and covers an area of 120.000 square meters. It is the oldest and largest imperial garden in the Forbidden City.
In the garden, several-hundred-year-old pines, cypresses and Chinese wistaria grow luxuriantly, and exotic stones are scattered here and there, in addition to various kind of potted landscapes. Over 20 halls, pavilions and towers in various styles are symmetrically located on the eastern and western sides of the central axis.
The paths in the garden are meticulously paved with colored cobbles, in over 900 patterns.
The Imperial Garden is the place where emperors, empresses and imperial concubines appreciated the scenery and amused themselves. In the Qing Dynasty, girls were selected here for the emperor's harem. |
