故宫的英语导游词
The Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City, is a splendid palace complex located at the heart of Beijing, and has served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasty. It is one of the most outstanding architectural masterpieces in history and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
The palace covers an area of 720,000 square meters and consists of more than 9000 rooms. The whole palace is divided into two major parts, the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The Outer Court is where the emperor held grand ceremonies, conducted political affairs and received foreign envoys. The Inner Court, which includes the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, served as the emperor's living quarters and the imperial family's private residence.
故宫导游词
As we walk through the majestic Meridian Gate, you can find the five white marble bridges known as the Golden Water Bridges. These bridges are the first thing you will see as you enter the main palace. Next, we come to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which is the palace'
s grandest hall and is the architectural highlight of the entire Forbidden City. The hall boasts a throne made of red sandalwood, which was reserved for the emperor's use during important ceremonies.
As we move to the Inner Court, we come to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. This palace was originally built for the Ming emperor as his sleeping quarters, and later became the living quarters for the Qing emperors. The name "Heavenly Purity" implies that the emperor had to maintain his purity in daily life and rule with a clear and virtuous heart.
Further on, we come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, which served as the residence of the last eight Qing emperors. It now houses the Palace Museum’s imperial collections. Finally, we come to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, which used to be the empress's living quarters. It has an octagonal shape and a double-eaved roof, and it's surrounded by a moat filled with water.
In addition to these main landmarks, there are many other places in the Imperial Palace, such as the Six Western Palaces and the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. These in
timate spaces showcase the private lives of the imperial family and reveal their innermost secrets.
In conclusion, the Imperial Palace is not only a cultural relic telling a story of China's imperial past but also a living museum of art and architecture. It is a must-see attraction for all visitors to Beijing and the beauty of its craftsmanship is unparalleled in the world.