染雾Beijing Forbidden City English Tour Guide Speech - Part 1
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the magnificent Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. As we step into this historical site, let us embark on a journey back in time to the grandeur and splendor of ancient China.
The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is the largest and best-preserved imperial palace complex in the world. It covers an area of approximately 180 acres and is home to over 9,000 rooms. The construction of this architectural masterpiece began in 1406 and was completed in 1420, taking over 14 years to finish.
Once the imperial residence for emperors and their families, the Forbidden City was off-limits to the common people for over 500 years. Today, it is open to the public, allowing visitors from all around the world to witness the rich history and cultural heritage of China.
As we enter through the Meridian Gate, also known as Wumen, we are greeted by a large square known as the Outer Court. This area was used for important ceremonies and state affairs. Here you can see three grand halls: the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. These halls were used for imperial ceremonies, banquets, and important meetings.
Moving further into the palace complex, we reach the Inner Court, which was the living quarters of the emperor and his family. The Hall of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility are the main structures in this area. The emperor would reside in the Hall of Heavenly Purity, while the empress and concubines would stay in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Forbidden City is its exquisite architecture. The buildings are characterized by their yellow glazed roof tiles, intricate carvings, and vibrant colors. The layout of the palace complex follows the principles of feng shui, with the main buildings aligned along a central axis.
In addition to its architectural beauty, the Forbidden City also houses a vast collection of cultural relics and artifacts. The Palace Museum boasts over 1.8 million treasures, including ancient paintings, calligraphy, porcelain, jade, and imperial furniture. These artifacts provide a glimpse into the lifestyle, beliefs, and artistic achievements of the Chinese imperial court.
As we conclude our tour of the Forbidden City, I hope you have gained a deeper appreciation for the rich history and cultural significance of this remarkable site. The Forbidden City truly stands as a testament to the grandeur and power of ancient China. Thank you for joining us today, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit.
北京故宫英文导游辞 篇三
forbidden city(紫禁城)
(in front of the meridian gate)
ladies and gentlemen:
i am pleased to serve as your guide today.
it is believed that the palace museum, or zi jin cheng (purple forbidden city), got its name from astronomy folklore, the ancient astronomers pided the constellations into groups and centered them around the ziwei yuan(north star). the constellation containing the north star was called the constellation of heavenly god and star itself was called the purple palace. because the emperor was supposedly the son of the heavenly gods, his central and dominant position would be further highlighted the use of the word purple in the name of his residence. in folklore, the term ”an eastern purple cloud is drifting” became a metaphor for auspicious events after a purple cloud was seen drifting eastward immediately before the arrival of an ancient philosopher, laozi, to the hanghu pass. here, purple is associated with auspicious developments. the word jin (forbidden) is self-explanatory as the imperial palace was heavily guarded and off-explanatory as the imperial palace was heavily guarded and off-limits to ordinary people.
the red and yellow used on the palace walls and roofs are also symbolic. red represents happiness, good fortune and wealth. yellow is the color of the earth on the loess plateau, the original home of the chinese people. yellow became an imperial color during the tang dynasty, when only members of the royal family were allowed to wear it and use it in their architecture.
manpower and materials throughout the country were used to build the forbidden city. a total of 230,000 artisans and one million laborers were employed. marble was quarried from fangshan country mount pan in jixian county in hebei province. granite was quarried in quyang county in hebei province. paving blocks were fired in kilns in suzhou in southern china. bricks and scarlet pigmentation used on the palatial walls came from linqing in shandong province .timber was cut ,processed and hauled from the northwestern and southern regions.
the structure in front of us is the meridian gate. it is the main entrance to the forbidden city. it is also knows as wufenglou(five-phoenix tower). ming emperors held lavish banquets here on the 15th day of the first month of the chinese lunar year in hornor of their counties .they also used this place for punishing officals by flogging them with sticks.
qing emperors used this building to announce the beginning of the new year. qing emperor qianglong changed the original name of this announcement ceremony from ban li(announcement of calendar)to ban shou(announcement of new moon )to avoid coincidental association with another emperor` s name, hongli, which was considered a taboo at that time. qing dynasty emperors also used this place to hold audience and for other important ceremonies. for example,when the imperial
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