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A SPECIAL EVENT AFTER NEARLY A CENTURY
For the first time since 1925, the Forbidden City (Beijing), China's palace museum, will open to visitors after 5 PM, and only for two nights. The Forbidden City typically closes around 4:30 PM in winter and 5 PM in summer. Until now, only a few prominent heads of state have been granted the privilege of visiting the palace at night, one of them being US President Donald Trump during his 2017 visit to China.
On Tuesday evening, around 3,000 lucky visitors were allowed inside the Forbidden City to see impressive displays, including lantern shows, symphony orchestra performances, and ancient Chinese paintings projected onto the roof. Among them was Zhang Zhifu, a 77-year-old public security volunteer, who received a free ticket from the government as a token of appreciation for her volunteer work. "I grew up in Beijing and I visit the Forbidden City every year, but I've never seen it at night until today."
During this year's Beijing Lantern Festival, only certain areas of the Forbidden City will be open to the public at night, including the Meridian Gate, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the East Wall, and the Shenwu Gate.
Tickets to visit the Forbidden City and attend the festival sold out quickly after going on sale. The official website of the Forbidden City management also crashed on February 17 due to overwhelming traffic.
At this year's Lantern Festival, organizers are planning to replace candlelit lanterns with LED lights to avoid fire hazards and protect the ancient site.
'There will be many more events like this.'
Despite the chilly winter night – and the lack of tickets – visitors still crowded outside the Forbidden City to catch a glimpse of the light show on the first night.
"For 2,000 years, there has been a tradition of illuminating the streets during the Chinese Lantern Festival, which is an extension of the Lunar New Year," said Shan Jixiang, director of the Palace Museum. "We want to continue that tradition and illuminate the ancient architecture, giving people more festive experiences. Tonight is a test. If the feedback is positive, there will be more events like this in the future."
The Forbidden City has long been a symbol of Chinese culture. It's also the filming location for many popular historical dramas. Its magnificent scenery and long-standing cultural value have made it a popular tourist destination. Therefore, the event of opening it to the public for evening visits has attracted the attention of both locals and international tourists.
Completed in 1420, the Forbidden City was the residence of emperors and the political center of China for over 500 years. Originally, holding the Forbidden City Lantern Festival was a tradition reserved for the imperial family. However, concerns about protecting the ancient architecture – largely made of wood – from fire hazards led to its disappearance. Today, the festival has become a popular celebration for the general public.
