Forbidden City from Back

Emperor Hotel Beijing receives its name for a reason. A few meters from our hotel there stands the world-famous Forbidden City, the must-see for any first-time visitor of Beijing.

The Forbidden City emerged out of the North China Plain at the beginning of the 15th century, and till this day it remains the biggest complex of places in the world. Historical records have it that it took 100 million bricks, 200 million tiles, and tens of thousands of nanmu timbers were used. And overall, some 100,000 men were called up to for the construction.

Designed to reflect the eternal glory of imperial China, the Forbidden City was the home for 24 Chinese emperors since 1420. And it was from here that an empire of 150 million people was governed.

Today, as you travel around the massive palaces, notice the various colors of the buildings. The yellows indicate power, the reds, a symbol of good luck, and everywhere you see dragons, which brings the rains and makes the land prosper.

While stay at Emperor Hotel Beijing, you can have an open view of the sprawling palaces from our rooftop bar.

Tablets Erected To Emperor Chongzhen

Emperor Hotel Beijing is also a few minutes away from Jingshan Park, where you can learn for yourself the fate of the last emperor of Ming dynasty.

Once you get inside, take the path at the right. And soon you shall see two stone tablets and a twisted locust tree among a heap of rocks. This is where Emperor Chong Zhen hung himself some 300 years ago.

The year of 1644, the fate of Ming dynasty hung in the balance. An army made of peasants captured Beijing, the capital of China, and was coming at the Forbidden City.

Emperor Chong Zhen, who didn’t want to bring dishonor to himself, hung himself here from this twisted locust tree. Before he died, he wrote on his robe: “Enemy, do whatever you want to me, but leave my people alone!”

His people did remember him. The spot was crowded with people paying homage to the emperor.