Xiannongtan Qingcheng Palace is open for the first time! Appreciate the past style of the royal buildings on Beijing’s central axis
On December 21, Beijing’s Xiannongtan Qingcheng Palace was officially opened to the public. This is another ancient building area within Xiannongtan that is open to the public after the Shencang Courtyard was opened for the first time in April this year.
Xiannongtan is one of the 15 heritage sites on the central axis of Beijing. Qingcheng Palace is not only an important part of Xiannong Altar, but also the first cultural relics and ancient building site to be newly unveiled after Beijing’s Central Axis was successfully applied for World Heritage. After careful evacuation, repair and protection, Qingcheng Palace has incorporated modern display methods, allowing visitors to better appreciate the past style of this royal building.
Qingcheng Palace, formerly known as Zhai Palace, was built in the second year of Tomorrow Shun (1458). It was a place where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties fasted before offering sacrifices to ancestors. In the 20th year of Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1755), the corridors and walls were renovated to form the current layout, and the name was changed to Qingcheng Palace. It became a place where the emperor paid homage to his ancestors and cultivated the fields to celebrate his achievements.
On the morning of the 21st, the reporter saw at the scene that the brand-new Qingcheng Palace, with its red walls, green tiles, and Ming and Qing paintings, was shining in the sun. According to historical records, all civil and military officials came here to congratulate the emperor on the success of the ceremony. Later, the emperor gave tea to all officials. Shuntian Prefecture led the magistrates of Daxing and Wanping counties to Dongyemen of Qingcheng Palace to report the final number of acres of cultivated land. After the ceremony, the emperor left in his chariot. There is also an interesting detail. Xue Jian, director of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, revealed:
Xue Jian: One-third of an acre of land was cultivated by the emperor himself, and it was his responsibility, but he cultivated it himself. As a hint, who will do the large amount of labor? He wants to invite farmers to help him plant. When the ceremony was held at this place, Fu Yin brought the farmers from Daxing and Wanping counties who helped him farm to this place to receive the cloth from the emperor. The cloth was the farmer's responsibility for planting three-acre land. wages.
