Taihe Dian (Hall of Great Harmony)

Frommer's Review

Located beyond Taihe Men, and across an even grander stone courtyard, is an imposing double-roofed structure mounted atop a three-tiered marble terrace with elaborately carved balustrades. This is the largest wooden hall in China, and the most elaborate and prestigious of the palaces' throne halls; it was therefore rarely used. Emperors came here to mark the New Year and winter solstice. Note the row of ceramic figurines on the roof, led by a man on a chicken (a despotic prince) fleeing a terrible dragon that heads a group of nine animal figures. The number of figures reflects the importance of the building.

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