The 'Mystery of No Trees' in the forbidden city, a dialogue spanning 600 years
Standing on the White Marble steps in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in The Forbidden City, looking up at this towering building with double eaves and covered with golden glazed tiles, a question haunts me: Why is there not even a shade tree in the huge square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony? What design code is hidden in this palace that has witnessed the coronation ceremony of 24 emperors?
Uncovering Cold Knowledge: The Four Mysteries of the "Tree free" Palace of Supreme Harmony
Fire and anti-theft 'empty space design'
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was a venue for national level ceremonies such as imperial court hearings, imperial weddings, and palace examinations for top scholars, accommodating tens of thousands of people. If trees are planted, the accumulation of fallen leaves can easily cause fires, and tree roots may damage the "golden dragon" drainage system under the tiles (there are 15 layers of gold bricks buried under the tiles, forming a "dragon vein" drainage network).
The astrological layout of "unity of heaven and man"
The architecture of the Forbidden City strictly follows the ritual system of "front court, back bedroom" and "left ancestor, right community". The square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony corresponds to the position of the "Emperor Star" in the "Purple Weiyuan" constellation. The square without tree cover symbolizes the emperor's supreme position of "ruling over the world".
The ceremonial route of 'Dragon Vein Connection'
When the emperor holds a grand ceremony, he needs to pass through the Meridian Gate, the Taihe Gate, and the Taihe Hall, with unobstructed visibility throughout the entire process, to make the ceremony more majestic. If trees are planted, it will disrupt the coherence of the 'dragon veins'.
The Legend of 'Hundred Birds Never Falling'
There is a folk rumor that the roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony is covered with "glazed dragon kisses", which can deter birds from resting. Although it is a legend, the treeless environment does reduce the corrosion of buildings caused by bird droppings.
Travel experience: A treeless journey through the Forbidden City
Route: Meridian Gate → Taihe Gate → Taihe Hall → Zhonghe Hall → Baohe Hall → Qianqing Palace → Imperial Garden
Highlights:
Taihe Hall Square: Experience the shock of an empty space under the scorching sun and imagine the grand ceremony of that year.
Dragon patterned stone carving on the imperial path: Touch the imperial path stone carved with 9 giant dragons, and experience the ritual of "step by step birth of dragons".
Corridor of Qianqing Palace: Under the plaque of "Zhengda Guangming", listen to the tour guide tell the story of Yongzheng setting up a secret storage box.
Tips for avoiding pitfalls:
Avoid the peak hours of 10:00-13:00 for tour groups and choose the first wave to enter the palace at 8:30.
Rent a tour guide (20 yuan/unit) or join a tour guide group to learn about the architectural details.
Deep Cold Knowledge: The Philosophy of "Trees" and "No Trees" in the Forbidden City
The Secret Realm of Trees:
Imperial Garden: The ancient cypress tree cluster next to the Wanchun Pavilion is a sacred site for the Ming and Qing emperors to offer sacrifices to the sky and pray for rain.
Wenhua Hall: Under the crabapple tree lies the Wenyuan Pavilion, which houses the Complete Library of the Four Treasures. Emperor Qianlong ordered people to plant it to "overcome fire with water".
The symbol of 'treeless':
The three main halls: Taihe Hall, Zhonghe Hall, and Baohe Hall, all have no trees, reflecting the ritual system of "respecting the hall".
Shenwu Gate: Pear trees were once planted inside the North Palace Gate, but were ordered to be cut down by Empress Dowager Cixi due to the homophonic sound of "li" for "pear".
Practical information: Forbidden City tickets+hidden gameplay
Ticket: 60 yuan/person (peak season), please make a reservation 10 days in advance through the "Palace Museum" mini program.
Hidden route: Enter from Donghua Gate → Avoid the crowds at Meridian Gate → Head straight to the "Ice Cellar Restaurant" on the west side of the Hall of Supreme Harmony to taste the Forbidden City coffee.
Night tour Experience: The "Forbidden City Night" is open every Friday/Saturday (18:30-21:00) and requires individual reservation.
The treeless beauty of the Forbidden City is a 'historical poem' written for the sky
As the setting sun gilded the glazed tiles of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, standing on the square devoid of trees, I suddenly understood that the "treeless" landscape of the Forbidden City was like a blank sheet of rice paper, allowing 600 years of wind and rain, and the stories of 24 emperors to be freely written under the blue sky. Next time, why not bring a copy of the "Forbidden City Architectural Manual" and have a silent conversation with the ancients on the "treeless" square.
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