第1篇
LadiesandGentlemen,
Goodmorning/afternoon/evening.Today,Istandbeforeyoutotakeyouonavirtualjourneytooneofthemosticonicandhistoricallysignificantlandmarksintheworld–theForbiddenCity.Asasixth-gradestudent,Iamhonoredtosharewithyoutherichhistory,architecturalmarvels,andculturalsignificanceofthisancientpalacecomplex.
TheForbiddenCity,locatedintheheartofBeijing,China,wastheimperialpalaceoftheMingandQingdynastiesfornearly500years.Itwasbuiltin1406andcompletedin1420,duringthereignofEmperorYongleoftheMingDynasty.ThenameForbiddenCityisderivedfromthefactthatitwasastrictlyoff-limitsareaforcommoners,andonlytheemperor,hisfamily,andhiscourtofficialswereallowedentry.
Letusdelveintothefascinatinghistoryofthismajesticpalace.
TheConstructionandLayout
TheconstructionoftheForbiddenCitywasacolossalundertaking,involvingthousandsofworkersandartisans.Thepalacecoversanareaofapproximately720,000squaremetersandconsistsof980buildings,allmeticulouslydesignedandconstructed.ThelayoutoftheForbiddenCityisdividedintotwomainsections:theOuterCourtandtheInnerCourt.
TheOuterCourt,alsoknownastheImperialSquare,wasthesiteofofficialceremoniesandstatefunctions.Itwaswheretheemperorwouldreceiveforeigndignitariesandconductstateaffairs.ThemostprominentbuildingsintheOuterCourtincludetheHallofSupremeHarmony,theHallofCentralHarmony,andtheHallofPreservingHarmony.
TheInnerCourt,ontheotherhand,wastheprivateresidenceoftheemperorandhisfamily.ItismoreintimateandlessgrandiosethantheOuterCourt.TheInnerCourtishometotheImperialGarden,wheretheemperorandhisfamilywouldretreatforrelaxationandentertainment.
ArchitecturalWonders
ThearchitectureoftheForbiddenCityisatestamenttotheingenuityandcraftsmanshipofancientChinese