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Huế (21) Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Photo: Huế, Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)

Hue21 photos

Description

The Imperial City is a walled palace within the citadel of the city of Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The building was built in 1362, and took 203 years to complete.

In June 1789 Nguyễn Ánh took control of Vietnam and proclaimed himself Emperor Gia Long. His rule was recognized by China in 1804. Gia Long consulted with geomancers to decide which was the best place for a new palace and citadel to be built. After the geomancers had decided on a suitable site in Huế, building began in 1804. Thousands of workers were ordered to produce a wall and moat, 10 km long. Initially the walls were earthen, but later these earthen walls were replaced by stone walls, 2 m thick.

The citadel was oriented to face the Huong River to the east. This was different from the Forbidden City in Beijing, which faces south. The Emperor’s palace is on the east side of the citadel, nearest the river. A second set of tall walls and a second moat was constructed around the Emperor’s palace. Many more palaces and gates and courtyards and gardens were subsequently added. The reigns of the last Vietnamese Emperors lasted until the mid-1900s. At the time, the Purple Forbidden City had many buildings and hundreds of rooms. It suffered from termite and cyclone damage, but was still very impressive. Many bullet holes left over from the Vietnam War can be observed on the stone walls.

Map: Huế

★ Open the Google Maps link in a new window at the location: Huế

Photo gallery21 photos

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Huế (1) Railway station
Huế (1)Railway station
Huế (19) Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (19)Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (8) Imperial City - Palace of Supreme Harmony (Điện Thái Hòa)
Huế (8)Imperial City - Palace of Supreme Harmony (Điện Thái Hòa)
Huế (5) Imperial City - Meridian Gate (Ngọ Môn)
Huế (5)Imperial City - Meridian Gate (Ngọ Môn)
Huế (13) Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (13)Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (21) Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (21)Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (9) Imperial City - Palace of Supreme Harmony (Điện Thái Hòa)
Huế (9)Imperial City - Palace of Supreme Harmony (Điện Thái Hòa)
Huế (20) Imperial City - Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (20)Imperial City - Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (17) Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (17)Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (15) Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (15)Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (22) Imperial City - Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (22)Imperial City - Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (2) Railway station
Huế (2)Railway station
Huế (4) Imperial City - Meridian Gate (Ngọ Môn)
Huế (4)Imperial City - Meridian Gate (Ngọ Môn)
Huế (7) Imperial City - Palace of Supreme Harmony (Điện Thái Hòa)
Huế (7)Imperial City - Palace of Supreme Harmony (Điện Thái Hòa)
Huế (6) Imperial City - Meridian Gate (Ngọ Môn)
Huế (6)Imperial City - Meridian Gate (Ngọ Môn)
Huế (11) Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (11)Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (16) Imperial City - Hưng Tổ Temple (Hưng Tổ miếu)
Huế (16)Imperial City - Hưng Tổ Temple (Hưng Tổ miếu)
Huế (14) Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (14)Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (18) Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (18)Imperial City - Gate to Pavilion of Splendour (Hiển Lâm các)
Huế (12) Imperial City
Huế (12)Imperial City
Huế (10) Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)
Huế (10)Imperial City - Royal LIbrary (Thái Bình Lâu)

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