Forbidden City of Hue
The Forbidden City of Hue - Echoes of the Nguyen Dynasty Era
Situated within the heritage complex of the former imperial capital Hue, the Forbidden City stands at the heart of the city. This is the third ring of fortifications within the Hue Citadel, revered as the exclusive domain of emperors and the royal court of the Nguyen Dynasty. Even officials were forbidden entry, let alone commoners, making it a realm reserved solely for royalty.
Construction of this landmark commenced in 1804, during the reign of King Gia Long III, known then as Imperial Palace. Renamed to Forbidden City in the third year of Minh Mang's rule (1822), the name has endured to this day. It stood as a vital precinct of the Nguyen dynasty, perpetually safeguarded.
Nestled within the grounds of Hue Imperial City, the Forbidden City of Hue beckons exploration, offering a plethora of discoveries. @en.wikipedia.org
Forbidden City of Hue
Ideal timing for a visit to the Forbidden City of Hue
Based on Mytour's experience in exploring Hue, there are several ideal times to visit Hue in general and explore the Forbidden City in particular, such as:
The months of January and February mark the transitional period in Hue, with gradually warming and pleasant weather, along with varied spring landscapes.From April to July is the festival season in Hue, especially the festival season in Hue often held in April or June every even year. This is when tourists can immerse themselves in the lively festival atmosphere and enjoy unique art performances.The dry season in Hue lasts from May to September with sunny weather, making it very convenient for tourists to sightsee and admire the scenery.The rainy season in Hue lasts from September to April of the following year. This isn't the peak tourist season, so hotel room prices in Hue are quite affordable. If you don't mind the heavy rains in Hue, traveling during this time will significantly save you costs and surely offer memorable experiences and emotions.
Art programs at the Hue Festival @vnexpress.net
Opening hours and ticket prices for the Forbidden City of Hue
Forbidden City of Hue
What's interesting about the Forbidden City of Hue?
Exploring the distinctive architectural space
The Forbidden City is a rectangular fortress with dimensions of 324m x 290.68m. The perimeter of the fortress is 1,229.36m. The walls are 3.72m high and 0.72m thick. The main material used for construction is 'gạch vồ' - a type of fired clay brick, large in size and block-shaped.
Forbidden City of Hue
The entire layout of the Forbidden City is meticulously arranged and symmetrical. The structures within the fortress are symmetrically arranged in pairs along the central axis and symmetrical positions in the front - back; upper - lower; left - right.The arrangement of architectural structures always adheres to the rule of 'tả văn hữu võ', 'tả nam hữu nữ', 'tả chiêu hữu mục'.The architecture extensively employs the numbers 9 and 5 because these are the numbers associated with the Heavenly Emperor in Chinese cosmology.The Forbidden City epitomizes the absolutist monarchial ideology of the feudal era. Here, every convenience converges to serve dining, studying, working, relaxing, and entertainment, akin to a royal microcosm. The Can Thanh Palace - the king's residence - lies at the heart of this 'cosmos'.
3D panorama of the Forbidden City precinct @sketchfab.com
Forbidden City of Hue
To the south stands the Great Palace Gate, constructed entirely of wood with exquisite tile roofing.To the East are the Hung Khanh Gate and Dong An Gate. After the closure of Dong An Gate, the king ordered the opening of Duyet Thi Gate on the eastern side of Duyet Thi Street. Additionally, a Cấm Uyển Gate was opened on this side but was later filled in.To the West lie the Gia Tuong Gate and Tay An Gate.To the North are the Tuong Loan Gate and Nghi Phung Gate (before 1821, Nghi Phung Gate was named Tuong Lan).During the reign of Bao Dai, the Office Gate was opened after the addition of the Ngự Tiền Văn phòng floor.Explore the unique architectural marvels
Within the Forbidden City are around 50 architectural structures of varying sizes arranged in different areas. Among them, notable structures include:
Great Palace Gate: This is the main entrance to the Forbidden City, built in 1833.Can Chanh Palace lies behind the Great Palace Gate and is separated by a spacious courtyard. This is where the king conducted affairs of state and held court sessions.
Historical photos of Can Chanh Palace before 1947, before it was completely destroyed @dulich.laodong.vn
The Tả Vu and Hữu Vu Houses flanking Can Chanh Palace were where officials prepared for court sessions and awaited audiences with the king. The Northern Tả Vu House served as the Secretariat, while the Southern house was the Inner Court, where court officials gathered for audiences with the king.The Inner Court located behind Can Chanh Palace served as the dining and living area for the king, his family, and attendants.Forbidden City of Hue
North of Can Thanh Palace lies the Khon Thai Court, consisting of the Khon Thai Palace (known as Khon Duc Palace under King Gia Long's reign), Trinh Minh Palace... This is where the inner court concubines dine and reside.Beyond the Khon Thai Court is the Kien Trung Pavilion, a 3-storey structure standing at 10.8m tall, with an observatory on the top floor for the king to observe distant scenes.Thai Binh Tower was constructed from 1919 to 1921 under King Khai Dinh's reign. This is where the king read books, rested, and relaxed during leisure time.Duyet Thi Duong was built in 1826 during the reign of the 7th King Minh Mang. This is where singing and traditional drama performances were held to entertain the king, royal family, and high-ranking officials. Today, Duyet Thi Duong is considered the oldest theater in Vietnam. In 2004, the building was restored and became a venue for classical arts performances in the Hue royal court style.
A classical music performance at Duyet Thi Duong @dulichhue.com.vn
The Nguyet Uyen Thieu Phuong Garden, also known as Thieu Phuong Garden, was built in 1828 during Minh Mang's reign. It was once considered one of the ten most beautiful scenes in the Hue Citadel heritage complex.
Forbidden City of Hue
Forbidden City of Hue
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