Forbidden City - Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tai He Dian), or the Throne Hall, was first built in the Ming Dynasty in 1406 and later rebuilt in 1659.

The hall stands 35 meters high, 64 meters wide and 37 meters broad. It was the tallest building in the Ming and Qing periods, when no other civilian buildings were allowed to be higher than it. It is the largest wooden structure still standing in China today.

This is the center stage where the Emperor exercised his rule over the whole country. Here the Emperor ascended the throne, received high officials and celebrated important festivals such as the Winter Solstice, the Chinese New Year, the Emperor's birthday. Here, the emperor also dispatched generals to battles.

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