太和门 — Attraction in Beijing

We combined Tianeman Square and the forbidden City in a day and certainly covered some ground. We started in the Square which is most notable for it's size. The walk through Mau's Mausaleum had a significant line and is only open from 8am to midday.

Great photo opportunities from the square to the palace. Once you enter the palace, be prepared to be approached by art students for tours. Fairly easy to avoid. Immediately upon entry, take the gate tower tour and put yourself in the shoes of Mau gazing down upon the millions in the square. Some great AV interpretation with ceremonial footage...

Walking through the alleys of the Forbidden City, one cannot but imagine how the daily life the emperors could have been. The palace has been built for the well being of the emperors to the very details. After more than 6 centuries, the palace is still well preserved. Exploring it needs a minimum of half a day and loads of patience..! The best is to start early morning before the crowds. Finally, the palace is also a tribute to the thousands of workers of ancient China who toiled for 14 years to...

太和門，是紫禁城內最大的宮門，也是紫禁城外朝宮殿的正門。是自天安門南側向北進紫禁城時經過的第四道門（前三道依次為天安門、端門、午門）。

太和門建成於明朝永樂十八年（1420年），初稱「奉天門」。明朝嘉靖三十七年六月辛卯重建改稱「大朝門」，嘉靖四十一年（1562年）改稱「皇極門」。清朝順治二年（1645年）改稱「太和門」。清朝順治三年（1646年）、嘉慶七年（1802年）均曾重修。光緒十四年，太和門西側的貞度門失火，殃及太和門與昭德門，三門均被焚毀，光緒十五年重建。光緒十四年十二月十五日（1889年1月16日）深夜，太和門護軍值班房因護軍熟睡，油燈點著門柱引發火災。雖然派出了7000多人次救火，大火依然燒了兩天，太和門被焚毀。光緒十五年正月二十七日（1889年2月26日），為光緒帝大婚的吉日。按照清朝制度，大婚皇后須經太和門進宮。僅剩42天時間，重修太和門已來不及，清廷遂令北京的棚匠紮彩工，搭成一座彩棚太和門，以假亂真，在光緒帝大婚時使用。震鈞《天咫偶聞》載：「……大婚，不及修建，乃以劄彩為之。高卑廣狹無少差。至榱桷之花紋，鴟吻之雕鏤，瓦溝之廣狹，無不克肖。雖久執事內廷者，不能辨其真偽。而且高逾十丈，慄冽之風，不少動搖，技至此神也！...