Imperial Palace
In order to consolidate the emperors' control, highlight the dignity of the imperial power, and satisfy their extravagant material lives, grand palaces were always built in large scale. For thousands of years, successive emperors spare no labor, material or money to build majestic palaces for them. Those solemn and magnificent palaces fully exhibit the wisdom and creative power of the Chinese people. |
Forbidden City
As the biggest and most integrated existing building complex in China, it was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In 1988, the Imperial Palace was listed as World Cultural Heritage by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). |
Altars and Temples
Altars and temples occupy an important place in ancient Chinese Architecture. They are ceremonial sites between religious and non-religious buildings and are served for offer sacrifices to the heaven, the earth, the sun, the moon, the country, mountains, emperor and scholars of the past, as well as ancestors.
Altars and temples occupy an important place in ancient Chinese Archit
ecture. They are ceremonial sites between religious and non-religious buildings and are served for offer sacrifices to the heaven, the earth, the sun, the moon, the country, mountains, emperor and scholars of the past, as well as ancestors. |
Temple of Heaven
Located several kilometers distance on the southeast away from the Imperial Palace, the Temple of Heaven is a huge altar for the heaven. The total area of the Temple of Heaven is 2.7 million square meters, which is four times as large as the Forbidden City. |
Confucian Temple
The Confucian Temple locates in the center of Qufu City. It is famous for the oriental architectural features and large scale. Together with the Imperial Palace in Beijing and Mountain Resort in Chengde of Heibei Province, the Confucian Temple is one of the three great building complexes in ancient China. |
Temple of Guanyu
The Temple of God of Warrior is also called Temple of Guanyu because it is a place to worship Guanyu, a famous warrior in the Three Kingdoms Period. Guanyu was greatly praised and was granted titles by emperors after the Song Dynasty for many times. He was regarded as a good example of man with faith, filial piety, justice and moral integrity. So he is called God of Warrior. |
Mausoleum
Mausoleums make a very important part in ancient Chinese architectures. In ancient times, people in China believe that the sprit dose not die with the body. They attached importance to the funeral so much that every class of the society designed the mausoleums elaborately. In the long history, Chinese mausoleum buildings have well developed. The large scales of kings' and queens' mausoleums are rarely seen in the world. The mausoleums are integrated with various arts, such as painting, calligraphy, carving and so on. Therefore, mausoleum architecture is a synthesis of achievements in many artistic fields. The overall arrangements of Chinese mausoleums always include walls around, doors opened to four directions, as well as turrets on four corners. There are
Mausoleums are the most majestic and also the biggest building complexes in ancient China. These mausoleums are always built back on the mountains; some of them are also on the plains. There is usually a paved path leading to the tomb with stone persons and stone beast on both sides. Many trees, usually pines and cypresses, are planted around the mausoleums, which add to the atmosphere of solemn, respectful and quiet. |
Ming Dynasty Tombs
The Ming Dynasty Tombs locate in a small basin of 40 square kilometers at the mountain foot of Mount Tianshou in Changping County, Beijing Municipality. There was a wall surrounding the tomb area. The front door opens to south with the Boa Mountain and the Tiger Valley standing on both sides, looking like a dragon and a tiger guarding the gate. The most famous tombs are the Chang Tombs for the majestic land buildings and the Ding Tomb, whose underground palace was excavated. The Ming Tombs were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in August 2003. |