A huge palace in China, closed to the people for 500 years.
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Before we read, let's learn the important words. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = B (an emperor) · 2 = A (a palace) · 3 = D (a wall) · 4 = C (forbidden)
5 = F (a servant) · 6 = H (ritual) · 7 = G (to give up) · 8 = E (a museum)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
Six hundred years ago, a powerful Chinese emperor named Yongle wanted a great new home. He chose the city of Beijing. He asked a huge number of workers — people say a million — to build a giant palace there.
The work took about fourteen years. It was finished in 1420. The palace was the biggest in the world. It had almost a thousand buildings, with golden roofs and big open spaces. One great hall is one of the largest old wooden buildings on Earth.
Around the palace there was a high wall and water. Normal people were not allowed to go inside. It was forbidden! That is why we call it "the Forbidden City". The emperor lived inside, but the people stayed outside.
1. Who wanted the palace, and how long did it take to build?
2. Why is it called "the Forbidden City"?
1. The emperor Yongle wanted it. It took about fourteen years and was finished in 1420.
2. Normal people were not allowed inside — it was forbidden. There was a high wall to keep them out.
For about five hundred years, China's emperors lived in the Forbidden City. Twenty-four different emperors lived there in total. But the emperor was not alone. Many people lived inside: his family, his wives, and many, many servants.
Some special servants were called eunuchs. They were the only men, apart from the emperor, who could go into the most private parts of the palace, where the women lived. There were thousands of these servants inside the walls.
Life in the palace had many rules and rituals. There were rules for how to dress, how to walk, and how to greet the emperor. Everything was beautiful and grand. But for many people inside, it was also like a golden prison: they could almost never leave.
1. How many emperors lived in the Forbidden City, and for about how long?
2. Who lived inside the palace with the emperor?
1. Twenty-four emperors lived there, over about five hundred years.
2. His family, his wives, and thousands of servants, including the special servants called eunuchs.
The last emperor was a little boy named Puyi. He became emperor when he was only two years old! But the time of emperors was ending. In 1912, when Puyi was still a child, he had to give up his throne. After more than two thousand years, China had no more emperors.
For a few years, the boy still lived in the palace. Then, in 1924, he had to leave. The next year, in 1925, something amazing happened: the gates opened for everyone. The palace became a museum. Now normal people could finally go inside!
The palace was in danger many times in the 20th century, during wars and big changes. People moved its treasures away to keep them safe, and soldiers protected the buildings. But the Forbidden City survived. Today, it is in the centre of Beijing, and millions of people from all over the world visit it every year.
1. Who was the last emperor, and what happened in 1912?
2. How did the palace become a place for everyone?
1. The last emperor was Puyi, a young boy. In 1912 he had to give up his throne, and China's emperors ended.
2. Puyi left in 1924, and in 1925 the palace became a museum. The gates opened and normal people could go inside.
Some verbs are followed by the -ing form. Some verbs are followed by to + verb. We also use to to say why we do something.
1. The emperor wanted in a beautiful palace.
2. Today, tourists enjoy the Forbidden City.
3. Now normal people are allowed inside.
1. to live — want + to + verb.
2. visiting — enjoy + -ing.
3. to go — allowed + to + verb.
Finish each sentence with to + verb to say why. Then read it out loud.
1. People built a high wall the public out.
2. The emperor lived behind the wall safe.
3. You need a ticket inside today.
1. to keep — Why a wall? To keep people out.
2. to stay — Why behind the wall? To stay safe.
3. to go — Why a ticket? To go inside.
There is a real podcast about the Forbidden City. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast. About 50 minutes. Listen to a few minutes now, or all of it for homework.
Listen on Spotify →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of the Forbidden City in your own words. Use these steps to help you: the emperor Yongle → a million workers build the palace → finished in 1420 → emperors, wives and servants live inside → the last emperor Puyi → in 1925 it becomes a museum.
Try to use -ing and to-forms — say what the palace was designed to do, what people wanted to do, what they were allowed to or forbidden from doing — and some of the key words (emperor, palace, wall, forbidden, servant, museum).
The emperor lived behind a high wall, away from the people. Why do you think powerful people sometimes hide from everyone? Do you know other famous palaces or big houses for powerful people?
Tell me about any famous building or person you choose — in your country or in another country. What was it designed to do? What were people allowed to do there, and what were they forbidden from doing? Try to use -ing and to.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: