The documentary about the Forbidden City has unveiled many intriguing mysteries, increasing visitors’ curiosity about the residence of the emperors during the feudal era.
The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is a palace complex located in Beijing, China. It served as the residence for emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, it is managed by the Palace Museum and has become a renowned tourist attraction in China.
Located in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City covers an area of 720,000 square meters, housing over 980 palaces and residences, making it the most well-preserved ancient wooden architectural complex in the world. This grand architectural ensemble has witnessed periods of prosperity in Chinese history up until the decline of the feudal system.
The Forbidden City.
Since 2012, the Forbidden City has welcomed an average of 14 million visitors annually, with over 19 million visitors recorded in 2019 alone. It can be said that this is one of the most visited museums in the world.
The documentary “I Restore Cultural Relics in the Forbidden City” explores every corner of the Palace Museum, revealing many fascinating mysteries about the work and daily lives of the staff there.
Three Shouts Before Opening the Forbidden City
Regarding the reason for shouting three times before opening the Forbidden City, staff provided three explanations: It is a traditional habit, a sign of respect for the spirits within the palace, and to wake up the cats. Among these, the third reason is the most widely acknowledged.
The “Imperial Cats” raised inside the Forbidden City to catch mice.
Inside the Forbidden City, there are many cats, humorously referred to as “Imperial Cats”. These cats often sleep behind the doors of the Forbidden City at night. Therefore, every morning when the staff opens the doors, they shout to awaken the cats and prevent them from getting trapped.
As for the second reason, it is believed that many spirits of the deceased reside in the Forbidden City; thus, shouting three times in the morning is also a show of respect.
In fact, this is an ancient tradition intended to express the solemnity of the Forbidden City. Although this practice is no longer necessary today, the staff still maintains this habit.
Visitors Must Leave the Forbidden City Before 5 PM
After 5 PM, the Forbidden City closes, requiring all visitors to leave before this time. This raises questions about why the Palace Museum never stays open late or allows overnight visits. What is the reason?
There are four hypotheses regarding the requirement for visitors to leave the Forbidden City before 5 PM.
First, it is rumored that the Forbidden City has a strong presence of negative energy. There are tales suggesting that many crimes occurred here, resulting from palace intrigues, with numerous concubines, palace maids, and eunuchs having been murdered. Some even assert that strange music can often be heard emanating from the palaces at night.
Second, there are no guards at the Forbidden City. Numerous trained dogs patrol the area from night until morning, so visitors should not remain to avoid potential injuries.
The Forbidden City has experienced thefts of its treasures by visitors.
Third, this relates to an incident that occurred 64 years ago. On August 16, 1959, during a routine patrol, the guards discovered something unusual. In the exhibition area, they found a broken window and several artifacts missing. Upon inventory, they realized that a precious book belonging to one of the queens of the Kangxi Emperor was gone, along with engagement items and letters from the Qianlong Emperor.
The police investigated and apprehended the culprit, Wu Qinghui, through fingerprints left at the scene. This individual confessed that after visiting the Forbidden City, he impulsively decided to steal. In 1960, he was sentenced to life in prison for stealing national cultural relics. Additionally, his sister, who aided him in the theft, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
As a result, after closing at 5 PM, some Palace Museum staff begin cleaning up, and specific personnel are designated to count the cultural relics to ensure that nothing is missing.
Fourth, this requirement is due to the deteriorating condition of the Forbidden City. With a total area of 720,000 square meters and over 70 palaces of various sizes, the complex contains up to 9,999 rooms. Some areas have fallen into disrepair and have not been renovated, making it potentially dangerous for visitors to wander unsupervised. Therefore, to protect both the cultural relics and the tourists, the Forbidden City enforces the rule of closing at 5 PM daily.
