Cining Palace is located on the West Road of the Forbidden City. It was built in the 15th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1536). In the Ming Dynasty, Cining Palace was occupied by the imperial concubine of the previous generation. The early and middle periods of the Qing Dynasty were the prosperous periods of the Cining Palace. At that time, Empress Xiaozhuang Wen and Empress Xiaoshengxian also lived here. Emperor Shunzhi, Emperor Kangxi, and Emperor Qianlong were famous for their filial piety. Cining Palace often held grand ceremonies to celebrate the birthday of the Empress Dowager.

Location of Cining Palace, Cining Garden and Shoukang Palace in the Forbidden City

The western area of the Forbidden City used to be called the "Women's World". It was a place where the Empress Dowager, Imperial Consort, and Consort lived together. It has never been opened since the Palace Museum was founded 88 years ago, so it is quite mysterious. The harem of the West Road of the Forbidden City, represented by the Cining Palace and Shoukang Palace, has always acted as a "warehouse" before it was opened: large and small items of the Forbidden City are filled with debris, and the doors are blocked much more often than when they are opened.

Starting from October 2015, the western part of the Forbidden City, including Cining Palace and Garden, Shoukang Palace, etc., will be open to the public. After its opening, the Cining Palace was transformed into a sculpture hall for display to tourists. After the renovation of the Cining Palace Sculpture Hall, the 10200 sculptures in the collection of the Palace Museum were also systematically displayed according to materials and dates.

Cining Garden was rebuilt in the 34th year of Qianlong (AD 1769) on the former site of Renshou Palace, built in the early Ming Dynasty. The trees in the garden are mainly pine and cypress, with sycamore trees, ginkgo trees, magnolia trees, and cloves among them. They are concentrated in front of Xianruouan and around Linxi Pavilion. Peonies and peony roots are densely planted in the flower beds. Its spring is beautiful and autumn is solid, and the four seasons of morning and dusk have different tastes. In the Forbidden City with strict etiquette, it is the only place where former empresses and concubines can find spiritual comfort.

Shoukang Palace was the residence of the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager of the Qing Dynasty. The Imperial Consort and Imperial Consort lived here with them. The emperor would come here every two or three days to pay tribute.