Palace of Cherishing Essence in the Forbidden City

He Palace of Cherishing Essence in the Forbidden City was the residence for the crown prince in the Ming dynasty. Emperors XianFeng and Tongzhi of the Qing dynasty also lived here when they were princes.

The Palace of Cherishing Essence became an important residence for empresses and concubines in the late Qing dynasty. It was the Main Palace of Empress Xiaozhexian, wife of Emperor Xianfeng, the future Empress Dowage Ci’an and also the Main Palace of Empress Longyu, wife of Emperor Guangxu. Both empresses led sad lives. They became widows in their twenties and thirties and suffered deaths in their forties. The Ming buildings are not commonly seen now in. the Palace Museum. But the Palace of Cherishing Essence will remind you of the old days. The main wooden structure of the Palace beams was built in the early Ming dynasty. Some colored paintings of the Ming dynasty still survive today after changes of dynasties and many restorations. The Jade Gallery of the Palace Museum is now in the Palace of Cherishing Essence.

Relevant attractions in the Forbidden City

Palace of Cherishing Essence
Palace of Revering Yang
Palace of Obeying the Heaven
Palace of Eternal Harmony
Palace of Revering Benevolence
Palace of Extending Happiness
Palace of Abstinence