The Forbidden City is one of the most iconic attractions in the vibrant city of Beijing, China. It served as the Chinese imperial palace for almost 500 years, spanning the heyday of the Ming and Qing dynasties and has influenced the architecture in Asia and the world and is a huge tourist draw today. When visiting the city, be sure to take advantage of some Beijing hotel deals available at the Grand Millennium Beijing. Offering all its visitors luxury interiors within a central location, this Beijing hotel is the perfect option to host your stay in city, whether it’s on business or pleasure. No trip to Beijing is complete with a visit to the Forbidden City, which is now a Palace Museum that houses all the decadent artefacts that celebrate China’s impressive monarchy. The four turrets or guard towers spanning the outer perimeter of the palace have an intriguing history all their own. They were originally built in 1420 and saw additional construction during the Qing Dynasty spanning from 1644-1911. Each tower has seen meticulous construction with nine girders, 18 posts and 72 ridges. They are the most visible aspect of the Forbidden City easily seen from the outside and are an exquisite sight on the city’s skyline. Skillfully evoking the combination of harmonious form and efficient function, these towers are a tribute to the ancient Chinese craftsperson. According to legend, the original carpenters and foremen were assigned a timeline of three months to both design and construct the towers. On the verge of panic, one of the carpenters took a walk to clear his head and came across a merchant in the local market place offering grasshoppers for sale, housed in a unique and intricately-designed cage. Struck by inspiration, the carpenter rush back to the building site and shared the model cage. The towers were completed in time and earned many accolades for their innovation and beauty.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.
