The Ming and the Manchus:  A Walk and Discussion at the Forbidden City

Date: Friday, April 13th
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cost: 300 RMB (260 RMB for members of The Hutong) includes all guide fees and admission tickets

For nearly 600 years, the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled China from behind the red walls of the Forbidden City. Theirs was a private world of palaces, gardens, courtyards, temples, and thrones.

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was a Chinese dynasty which came to power in a rebellion against the Mongol Khans. The Qing Empire (1636-1912) was founded by the Manchus, a people from what is today Northeast China. In 1644, the Manchus conquered China and moved the capital of their empire to Beijing. We'll tell the story of the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the Manchu conquest, one of the epic tales of Chinese history, and examine the differences and continuities between the Ming and the Qing eras.

Although the Qing Dynasty ended in 1912, the imperial legacy continues to influence China’s present and future.

This walk also considers what life was like for the men and women who lived and worked in the palace.  Who built the Forbidden City and why? What did it feel like reporting for duty as an imperial official? Who were the eunuchs who performed much of the necessary daily functions for the palace and its inhabitants? What was life like for a woman in the imperial family?

Our walk will take us to some of the more recently opened areas to avoid (as best we can in China!) the crowds while giving visitors a sense of the diverse architecture of the Forbidden City.

Duration: About three hours

Cost: 300 RMB (260 RMB for members of The Hutong) includes all guide fees and admission tickets

Spaces for this walk are limited and registration is required. Details about the walk including meeting points and payment information will be included in your registration confirmation. 

The Forbidden City requires "real name registration" for all visitors. Guests on this walk will need to bring their passports, shenfenzheng 身份证, or another form of national photo ID.