Forbidden City, 600 years indestructible, even termites give up: Is there a "talisman" against destruction?

The Forbidden City, an iconic structure of ancient China, was built over a period of 14 years, from 1406 to 1420. It was the residence of the emperor and royal family for 500 years, from the Ming Dynasty under the Yongle Emperor until the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1924.

In total, there were 24 dynasties that took turns ruling in the Forbidden City.

This massive complex consists of 980 buildings, with approximately 9,999 large and small rooms. All were designed and built in the traditional Chinese imperial architectural style, with elaborate carvings but still exuding majesty and luxury. In 1961, the Forbidden City was ranked as China's first national key cultural relic. In 1987, UNESCO officially recognized this place as a World Cultural Heritage.

Not only famous as a top tourist destination, the Forbidden City is also the subject of many mysterious stories, the most prominent of which is the incredible ability of the wooden architectural system to withstand time. Even though more than 600 years have passed, the Forbidden City has been almost unaffected by termites or damage, even though the main construction material is wood.

What makes researchers and tourists admire is the careful and elaborate selection of materials. During the construction process, more than one million workers were mobilized. Historical records show that many officials were sent to the southwestern regions such as Sichuan, Huguang, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Yunnan and Guizhou, and even Jiaozhi (now Vietnam) to supervise the exploitation and transportation of precious wood. These are all areas with abundant forest resources, providing the highest quality wood for the construction of the palace.

In addition to wood, a large amount of marble was also mined from quarries near Beijing for use in foundation and decoration items. But the most prominent feature is still the massive wooden architectural system, carefully selected and processed.

So what makes the wood in the Forbidden City so durable? Experts say it’s not that the wood never rots, but rather that the high quality of the wood slows down the decomposition process. The main types of wood used include virgin wood, fir, and cypress – all of which are rare, hard, rot-resistant, and weather-resistant.

Among them, the most highly valued wood is the chaste tree, often used to make pillars, thrones, beds and cabinets for the emperor. This type of wood is thousands of times more valuable than ordinary wood, with a characteristic golden color when polished. The chaste tree grows up to 30 meters high, is endemic to China and is currently listed as a second-class national protected species. In ancient times, only the royal family could own chaste tree items.

Legend has it that the search for and transportation of good wood took 11 years. Not only did the materials have to be carefully selected, the wooden objects and structures in the Forbidden City were also covered with a special layer of lacquer. This layer of paint helps prevent insect penetration and increases the durability of the wood surface.

Geographical factors also contribute to the preservation of this structure. The Forbidden City is located in the northern region of China, where the climate is cold and dry, with few harmful insects such as termites. As a result, the wooden structure is less affected by natural factors.

In addition, the ventilation and drainage system is designed extremely intelligently. Inside the walls are cleverly arranged ventilation holes, helping air circulate and keeping the building dry, avoiding mold and rot. Outside, the Forbidden City is surrounded by a 52 meter wide, 6 meter deep moat. Not only is this a natural defense, this moat also plays an important role in the drainage system.

In addition, the traditional design of "North high, South low" of ancient Chinese architecture is also thoroughly applied here, helping rainwater to easily flow to the South, avoiding water stagnation and damage. In particular, at the edges of the roof and porch, there are drainage points carved with dragon heads. Every time it rains, water will drain from the dragon's mouths, creating an impressive image like thousands of dragons spraying water - both aesthetic value and effective in dispersing water.

It is the harmonious combination of high-quality construction materials, sophisticated wood processing techniques, intelligent design and favorable natural conditions that has helped the Forbidden City maintain its majestic and solid appearance for hundreds of years. This is not only a living testament to the construction techniques of feudal China but also an everlasting symbol of ancient culture.

Forbidden City Mystery: Cracked Brick Courtyard, Accidentally Revealing a Shocking Secret? Đình Như18:47:44 17/05/2025For hundreds of years, archaeologists, historians and architects have been fascinated by this mysterious site. Every tree branch, blade of grass and even the floor tiles in the Forbidden City all have their own stories to tell.