北京故宫英语介绍

A: Zhang, could you tell us why the Palace Museum has anothername-Forbidden City?

B: Sure. The Palace Museum is the official name given by the Government. Of new China to the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. It is where the emperors lived. Common people were not permitted to approach it, so it is called the Forbidden City.

A: I heard that gardens and buildings were numerous. How did the emperors arrange those palaces, halls, houses and towers?

B: The palace is divided into two main sections. The southern part, which is the outer court was for holding ceremonies; while the northern one, the inner court, was used as the living quarters for the emperor and his family.

A: Look, what a brilliant building it is!

B: Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest hall in the Forbidden City.Many important ceremonies were held in this hall, for example,the celebration of the Spring Festival, the enthronement of an emperor or the celebration of the emperor's birthday.

A: We're now in the inner court, right? The bulletin tells us that this building is called the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

B: Yes. This is the central building in the inner court where the Ming emperors used to live. And here is the Palace of Earthly Tranquility where the emperor and the empress had to spend their wedding night.

A: Where did Empress Dowager Cixi give audience behind a screen?

B: It is in the east chamber of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to take a rest in the Imperial Garden. And you can also find pavilions, rare flowers and ancient pines and cypresses pines and cypresses.