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All China Beijing Working People's Cultural Palace

Working People's Cultural Palace

This smaller cousin of the Forbidden City has gone from ancestral sacrifice to tourist's whispers.

Beijing, China

Added By
Luca Catarinicchia
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Working People’s Cultural Palace   Gaby Kaminsky on Flickr
Working People’s Cultural Palace   Gaby Kaminsky on Flickr
The tiered stone base.   Tim Riley on Flickr
Some of the ancient stairs.   Taimiao on Wikipedia
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

On the eastern flank of the Forbidden City lies one of Beijing's best kept secrets, a forgotten temple that looks like a small-scale replica of the great Imperial Palace with one major difference: no crowds!

Nestled amidst an ancient grove of cypress trees, the 48 acres of the palace grounds have been an important site in Chinese imperial history. Originally known as the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the buildings that comprise the palace were used during the Ming and Qing dynasties as shrines to the ancestors of the imperial family and emperors would often come and pay homage to the dead. The three main halls in the palace include the Ancestral Worship Hall which was the principal location for rites and sacrifice, the Resting Hall which held tablets inscribed with the names of the deceased, and finally the Remote Ancestral Shrine was used to store the sacrificial slabs of the imperial ancestors.

In 1951 the ancient palace was rechristened the “Working People's Cultural Palace” and the historic buildings and gates were converted into a space for educational and recreational purposes for locals and tourists. There are now stadiums, exhibition halls and libraries on the site which is a serene alternative to the large, busier, but not dissimilar Forbidden City.  

Related Tags

Temples Architecture Cultures And Civilizations Rites And Rituals Sacred Spaces

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East side of the Forbidden City

Community Contributors

Added By

Luke Cata

Edited By

Martin, EricGrundhauser, Collector of Experiences

  • Martin
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Collector of Experiences

Published

September 6, 2012

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Sources
  • http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/beijing/sights/park/workers-cultural-palace
  • http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/workers-cultural-palace.htm
  • http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/beijing/31019.htm
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Ancestral_Temple
Working People's Cultural Palace
Donghuamen Rd
Beijing
China
39.913654, 116.398201
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

The Forbidden City

Beijing, China

miles away

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

Beijing, China

miles away

The Fox Tower at Dongbianmen

Beijing, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Beijing

Beijing

China

Places 24
Stories 3

Nearby Places

The Forbidden City

Beijing, China

miles away

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

Beijing, China

miles away

The Fox Tower at Dongbianmen

Beijing, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Beijing

Beijing

China

Places 24
Stories 3

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