More sections of Forbidden City's wall opened to public

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More sections of the wall surrounding the Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing are now open to the public, reported the Beijing Daily on Thursday.

The Palace Museum in the Forbidden City has opened the southern, eastern and northern sections of the wall, most of which was previously closed to the public, including the section from the Wumen Gate (Meridian Gate) at the southern end to the southwest corner tower. Visitors can walk on the wall and overlook three-quarters of the palace.

Visitors walk on the wall surrounding the Forbidden City. /VCG Photo

Built in the 1400s, the Forbidden City's wall is the largest and best preserved royal palace wall in China, with a length of 3,437.6 meters. It is 9.3 meters high and 8.55 meters wide at the base, tapering to 6.63 meters at the top.

The wall has a gate on each side. At the four corners of the wall sit towers, which are the most visible parts of the palace to people outside. Their elaborate roof structure and shadows in the water surrounding the palace always draw crowds who photograph the spectacular scenery.

According to Shan Jixiang, curator of the Palace Museum, the move was mainly to avoid overcrowding during China's week-long Golden Week holiday and offers visitors more opportunities to see the cultural relics. Such an arrangement will remain in place after the National Day holiday.

A bird's-eye view of the Forbidden City from the wall. /VCG Photo

In recent years, the Palace Museum has taken many measures to control the number of visitors, while unveiling more areas to the public.

In 2015, to celebrate its 90th anniversary, the museum made 65 percent of the royal complex, including a small section of the wall, accessible to the public.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency