These
palaces are located north of the Hall of Mental
Cultivation, three palaces on each side of an alley going from north to south.
They were the
living quarters for the empress and the concubines. The original layout was preserved to
offer visitors some basic ideas about the way of life the imperial family led.
Ci'xi lived in the
Palace of Eternal Spring (Chang Chun Gong) during the reign of Tongzhi. The last emperor's
wife lived in the Palace of Accumulated Elegance (Chu Xiu Gong) until 1924.
The original piece
of 18th and 19th century furniture are still kept and on display here. Also on display
here are some fine paintings illustrating the famous novel "The Dream of the Red
Mansions."
In the past, there
was a well known saying "3.000 beauties live in the Inner Court", it actually
referrd to those women living in the Six Western Palaces. |