Snowfall in the Forbidden City: A Fascinating Sight
On the evening of November 26th, snow was falling thickly and gently in Beijing, the capital of China, surprising many people. However, according to the meteorological department, this snowfall did not meet the criteria for the first snow of Beijing. Nevertheless, it brought a captivating visual feast to the Forbidden City, allowing this ancient palace to showcase unparalleled beauty and charm in the snow.
The Forbidden City, a palace complex located in the capital of China, was built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty and has stood firm through hundreds of years of wind and rain. It has nearly a thousand palace buildings, with red walls, yellow tiles, and resplendent and magnificent decorations. It is the largest and most well-preserved ancient wooden structure complex in the world.
It was not only the palace of the royal families of the Ming and Qing dynasties but also a three-dimensional history book. Every inch of brick and stone, every glazed tile, is engraved with the traces of history, witnessing countless significant royal ceremonies, political turmoil, and palace stories. Now, as the Palace Museum, it treasures a vast amount of precious cultural relics, showcasing the luxury of ancient Chinese royals and the broad and profound Chinese civilization to the world. It is a cultural treasure and art palace shared by all mankind.
When the snowflakes gently fell, the Forbidden City seemed to travel back to ancient times overnight. The vermilion palace walls, set off by the white snow, appeared even more bright and dazzling, like a meandering giant dragon, entrenched in the center of the capital首都(shǒu dū), emitting an ancient and mysterious atmosphere. The accumulated snow on the palace walls was like a layer of white scales covering this giant dragon, making it even more imposing.
首都 (shǒu dū), noun, capital
Examples:
- Beijing is the capital of China.
北京是中国的首都。
běi jīng shì zhōng guó de shǒu dū 。 - The capital of France is Paris.
法国的首都是巴黎。
fǎ guó de shǒu dū shì bā lí 。
Entering through the Meridian Gate and onto the square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, it was a world of silver and white. The thick snow was like a soft carpet, untouched by human feet, maintaining the most primitive purity and tranquility. Snowflakes gently landed on the golden glazed tiles, adding a touch of playfulness and agility to the solemn and solemn palace.
The rows of auspicious beasts loomed in and out of sight in the snow, as if recounting the palace皇宫(huáng gōng) affairs of a hundred years ago. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, as the core building of the Forbidden City, appeared even more majestic and spectacular in the snow. It carries the weight of history and the majesty of the royals. Now covered in snow, it resembles a temple in ice and snow, evoking a sense of awe.
皇宫 (huáng gōng), noun, palace
Examples:
- The palace is very magnificent.
这座皇宫非常宏伟。
zhè zuò huáng gōng fēi cháng hóng wěi 。 - She visited the palace last year.
她去年参观了皇宫。
tā qù nián cān guān le huáng gōng 。
Strolling along the central axis, palaces such as the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Union and Peace, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility came into view one after another. Under the cornices and brackets of these palaces, there were crystal-clear icicles hanging, like strings of natural crystal curtains, gently swaying in the breeze and making crisp and pleasant sounds. The red walls, green tiles, and white snow intertwined, forming pictures like poems and paintings, making people feel as if they were in a dreamlike world.
The scenery in the Imperial Garden was even more beautiful. Pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and ponds were all covered with snow, like a snow kingdom in a fairy tale world. The various shapes of Taihu stones were like a group of elves in white, playing and frolicking in the snow, full of vitality and vigor. Several plum blossoms quietly bloomed in the snow, with pink petals contrasting with the white snow, adding a touch of warm color to this cold winter day and making people feel as if they had traveled back to the romantic scenes in ancient palace dramas.
The Forbidden City after the snow was not only a visual feast but also a spiritual baptism. Here, people can feel the weight of history and the inheritance of culture. It seems that time stands still at this moment, allowing people to immerse themselves in the unique charm of this thousand-year-old capital. Tourists picked up their cameras one after another to record this rare beauty, wanting to cherish this beauty forever.
This snowfall, although not meeting the criteria for the first snow but still charming, has given the Forbidden City a different kind of brilliance. It is believed that everyone who comes here will be shocked by its beauty and moved by the history and culture it contains, leaving an unforgettable memory.