The Forbidden City has 9,999 rooms, 81 rivets, not a random number

As one of the best preserved medieval architectural complexes in the world, the Forbidden City is where the emperor lived, and also where seemingly simple numbers are hidden, but are absolutely calculated according to feng shui, Yin and Yang, and the will of heaven.

Located in the heart of modern Beijing, the Forbidden City is not only the largest palace in the world but also the symbol of the supreme power of the Chinese feudal regime for nearly 5 centuries. Built from 1406 to 1420 under the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di, this massive architectural complex was once the residence and workplace of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Forbidden City was commissioned by the third Ming Emperor, Yongle, and built by the architect Chen Gui. According to tradition, at one point more than 100,000 artisans and up to a million workers were involved in its construction. This sheer number of workers allowed the building to be completed in just 14 years.

The name Forbidden City has a profound meaning. Purple means purple, symbolizing the Purple Palace, the most sacred area in Heaven, where the Jade Emperor reigns according to Taoist beliefs. Cam means forbidden to enter, because only the Emperor, the Empress and a very small number of high-ranking officials are allowed to enter, the rest, if ordinary people cross the boundary, they will commit a serious crime. Thanh means the surrounding fortress, showing the solid and isolated nature of this complex.

The entire site covers an area of 720,000 square meters. There are a total of 980 buildings. Chinese folklore says that the Forbidden City had 9,999 rooms. However, according to the latest statistics, there are only about 9,371 rooms, still close to the legendary number but closer to reality. According to legend, only the "heavenly palace" of the Jade Emperor can have 10,000 rooms in its residence.

The architecture of the Forbidden City is a combination of the principles of feng shui, the philosophy of yin and yang and the imperial belief. The citadel was built on a North-South axis, facing South, the direction of light and prosperity. The entire structure was built in absolute symmetry along this axis, to express the balance of the universe and the legitimate power of the Emperor.

The Taihe Hall was designed according to the five-room rule, with nine long rooms and five wide rooms. Both the numbers nine and five have special meanings in ancient Chinese architecture. Numbers can be divided into even and odd numbers, which belong to Yang and Yin respectively, according to the Chinese principle of mutual restraint. Among odd numbers less than ten, the number nine is the highest and the number five is in the middle. Accordingly, both the numbers nine and five refer to the supreme power of the ancient Chinese emperor.

The number of animal figures carved on the palace walls was usually nine. Even the bronze rivets on the doors of each palace had to follow this rule (these were decorative nails, not ordinary iron nails). According to the rules, each door in the palace had to have 81 nails, with nine rows of nine nails each. The only exception was the Donghua Gate of the Forbidden City, which had only eight rows. Because coffins often passed through this gate, the number of nails used to fasten the door was reduced to an even or negative number.

The architecture of the Forbidden City also follows the principle of the golden section ratio. The inner courtyard of the Taihe Gate is 200m long and 130m wide, with a width/length ratio of 0.65. This number is close to 0.618, achieving the Golden Section Ratio. In addition, with the distance from the Great Ming Gate to Jing Mountain being 2.5km and the distance from the Great Ming Gate to the center of the Taihe Palace being 1.5045km, the ratio of 1.5045 to 2.5 is 0.618, which is also the golden section ratio.

Notably, the entire Forbidden City did not use iron nails, but used mortise and tenon techniques, a traditional construction secret that helps the structure withstand earthquakes and last for hundreds of years.

Inside the Forbidden City is a separate world, both splendid and melancholy. This is where power struggles, palace intrigues, and historical moments that changed the fate of the country took place. Legend has it that concubines, once they entered the palace, were never allowed to leave. Many lived their entire lives in the cold palaces, never meeting the emperor, until they grew old and passed away quietly.

Today, the Forbidden City is the world's largest imperial museum, welcoming over 14 million visitors each year. UNESCO recognized it as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987, praising it as "the most remarkable architectural masterpiece of historical and cultural significance in Asia." However, the mysteries of this place have not yet been fully discovered. Many rooms have not been opened, and mysterious stories are still waiting to be decoded.

The Forbidden City is not only an architectural work but also a priceless cultural heritage of mankind. Here, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy unique art collections and participate in traditional festivals rich in identity.

The Forbidden City is also the site of many important festivals and events in Chinese culture. Every year, thousands of tourists come here to participate in traditional festivals such as the Lunar New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival and many other cultural events.

These festivals not only bring a joyful and vibrant atmosphere but also help preserve and promote traditional cultural values. Through that, the Forbidden City is not only a place to visit but also a favorable environment for studying and preserving national culture.

Nowadays, the Forbidden City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. The ideal time to book a Beijing tour to fully explore the Forbidden City architecture is in late spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). At this time, Beijing's weather is usually cool and pleasant, not too hot like summer and not too cold like winter.

In particular, you should avoid major holidays such as Lunar New Year (late January - early February) and Chinese National Day (October 1) because the number of domestic tourists is very large, making it difficult to buy tickets, visit and take photos.

To explore the palaces in the Forbidden City, visitors should go early in the morning right when they open or in the late afternoon, this is a good time to avoid the crowds and have beautiful lighting conditions for filming and taking pictures.

Why is the "modest" king's bedroom 72,000 times the area of the Forbidden City? Kim Oanh23:04:34 04/05/2025Emperors in the Chinese feudal dynasties were considered the supreme existence in the world, but those who have visited the Imperial Palace, will probably find that the Emperor's bedroom is usually no more than 10 square meters.