Released on = August 26, 2007, 5:46 pm

Press Release Author = China Odyssey Tours

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = China Odyssey Tours specialize in providing package China
tours, discount Yangtze River cruises and best rate hotels.

Press Release Body = With vivid characteristics, Chinese royal buildings,
especially the most popular tourist attractions in Beijing, are mysterious to
today\'s people. Nearly every small part of the architecture is different and has
some symbolic value! Here we take the Forbidden City as an example and collect
something interesting about
this imperial palace. If explore it without a guide, you will never know the
secrets. Let\'s feel it more than just watch it!

The Ornamental Pillars (Hua Biao)
A pair of marble pillars, decorated with exquisite clouds and entwined
dragons carvings, can be often found in front of most large royal complexes.

They were originally made of wood and used to solicit public opinions from the
people. They were also treated as landmarks or road signs. But later they were only
used to decorate important buildings.

The most famous Huabiaos are located at Tiananmen, two in front of the gate of
Tiananmen and two behind the gate. On top of the Huabiaos, there sits a mythical
animal called Hou. It is believed that the positioning of the Hous\' heads was a
reminder to the emperor of the hopes of the people. The two behind the gate looking
at the palace (north) mean expecting the emperor to go out often and to understand
the life of the people better. The two in front facing south express longing for
the emperor\'s return to run state affairs when he was absent from the palace for
too long.

Stone/Bronze Lions
Lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A pair of stone or bronze lions, a male
and a female, can often be seen in front of the gates of traditional buildings. The
male lion is on the left with his right paw resting on a ball,
and the female on the right with her left paw fondling a cub.

Marble Terrace
Most of Chinese ancient royal buildings stand on marble terrace. The white marble
terrace can not only support and magnify the single building on it, but also
protect the wood structure from dampness. It also has a deeper
meaning. It reflects the rank of the building.

Grand Roof
Roofs are very important to
Chinese architecture. Palaces had particularly impressive elaborate roofs. The
distinctive roof of Chinese architecture involves a great deal of symbolism.
Symbolism is present in the colors and tiers of the eaves, roofing materials and
roof top decorations.
Yellow, regarded as an auspicious color, was exclusively used by the imperial
families of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Imperial roofs are certainly brilliant
gold or imperial yellow.

Tunjishou (the ridge-devouring beast)
Watch carefully, you will find the ridges of each roof are topped with figures of
mythical creatures. Fierce and formidable, it looks as if it were ready to devour
the whole ridge; so it is also known as tunjishou or the ridge-devouring beast.

What were they used for? For decorative purposes only? According to architects,
these strange-looking creatures can prevent the roof from sliding. Moreover, the
number and the size of the creatures on the eaves indicate the importance of the
building. When visiting the royal palace, it can be very interesting to count the
animals on the eaves and get to know exactly how important the building was.

Taihe Dian
Now, it is very easy to figure out that the Hall of Taihe Dian is the main hall of
the Forbidden City. First, the building is raised on a triple marble terrace, 8 m
(26 ft) high, enclosed by marble balustrades, whilst those around the same courtyard
were kept lower so as to set off the magnificence of the hall. Second, it has a roof
with double eaves and is decorated with carved dragons and phoenixes, most of which
are gilded. Third, don't forget the little mythical creatures on the eave. There
are 12 in total, the most of all! The Hall of Taihe Dian was the place where
emperors in the Ming and Qing

dynasties held.

Colors in the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is a complex painted in just two colors, yellow and red, which
can be seen throughout the city. The color red signifies happiness and yellow
signifies earth. In ancient China, the color yellow in particular, was most
extensively and exclusively used by the emperors, who were regarded as the Sons of
Heaven and the supreme rulers of humanity. Therefore, yellow became the dominant
color in the Forbidden City. Roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles; decorations
in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow by a
special process.

There is much more in the Forbidden City waiting for you to discover. Why is it that
no trees in the grand courtyard of the Hall of Taihe Dian? Hundreds of gilt bronze
vats are scattered in the Forbidden City. What were they used for? Only when you
get there can you reveal its mysterious veil!

What are you waiting for? Discover yourself!

Above articel provide by China Odyssey Tours

Web Site = http://www.chinaodysseytours.com

Contact Details = room310, no.8 Can luan road, high-tech developmental zone, guilin,
guangxi, china
zip:541004
tel:86-773-5850833 fax:86-773-585460