The Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, in the Forbidden City ,popularly known as the Hall of Golden Throne, is the highest-grade building in the Forbidden ity and the largest hall in Chinese ancient architecture extant. As the symbol of imperial authority, the Hall is supported with 72 pillars, covered with two-eave hipped roof and decorated with gold paintings. In the center of the 2,377-square-meter Hall are the six 13-meter-high gilded pillars.The floor is paved with rare clay bricks,which,owing to their fine quality,complicated techniques and great value,are called “golden bricks”.Since 34th year of the Kangxi reign (1695) when the Hall was rebuilt ,over 300 years have passed, but the bricks still look like black jade, bright and smooth.

The throne is set on a seven-step nanmu platform, which is carved with exquisitc design. On both sides of the throne are furnished symmetrically with auspicious ornaments, such as cranes, incense pavilions, luduan (unicolms that could travel 9,000 kilometers a day and understand all the Ianguages in the world) and elephants with vases on their backs. The center of the ceiling is decorated with an exquisite caisson, which is mainly used in high_grade imperial architecture. This is the magnificent envinment for the Son of Heaven to display his supreme power.

Relevant attractions in the Forbidden City

Inner Golden Water River
Gate of Supreme Harmony
Three Front Halls
Pavilion of Manifesting Benevolence and Pavilion of Expanding Justice
Hall of Supreme Harmony
Hall of Middle Harmony
Hall of Preserving Harmony