Rare photos of the late Qing Dynasty reveal a different life in the Forbidden City

We all know that Empress Dowager Cixi was very fond of photography. When she lived in the Forbidden City, she had many pictures taken of this place. So in many of the photos today, we can see some part of life inside the palace.

Empress Dowager Cixi on a yacht. This is a photo of Empress Dowager Cixi and her servants taken by Yu Huanling, a palace photographer. The photo was taken on July 16, 1903. Besides Empress Dowager Cixi in the photo are many other special figures such as Empress Longyu, the princesses and the courtiers that Cixi loved.

Consort Wenxiu, one of the concubines of Emperor Puyi during the late Qing Dynasty, was playing with a puppy very attentively.

The remains of Jianfu Palace after the fire in 1923. At 9:00 p.m. on June 26, 1923, Jianfu Palace in the Forbidden City, Beijing, suddenly caught fire. The fire spread very quickly, spreading from Jingyi Pavilion to Yanchun Pavilion, engulfing the surrounding palaces in flames. Despite efforts to put out the fire, all that remained was ashes. It is known that many rare national treasures from the previous emperors' era that were kept here were also burned, making King Puyi extremely angry.

Guards in the Forbidden City. This is an old photo taken by Liang Shitai, a palace photographer, of the guards in 1863. Unlike those in historical dramas, real-life guards are not very tall and muscular. However, they still retain their inherent dignity.

Emperor Puyi with Empress Wanrong and cousins

Young Emperor Pu Yi. This is a photo of Emperor Pu Yi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, at the age of 5, 3 years after his coronation. On February 12, 1912, Pu Yi was forced to abdicate after the Xinhai Revolution led by Sun Yat-sen (also known as Sun Yat-sen).

(Source: Culture and Sports)

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