The Forbidden City is a major tourist draw in Beijing. However, one of the biggest frustrations tourists face when visiting the historic site is that the halls are so poorly lit it makes it tough to see anything. Well, all that changed on Wednesday morning after a new lighting system was unveiled at the famous landmark, The South China Morning Post reports.
During a ceremony held at the Palace Museum on Wednesday, tourists watched as the halls were suddenly bathed in a warm light. The new lighting system was installed so that visitors are able to glimpse the internal areas of the Forbidden City, many of which were once cloaked in near darkness. The three main halls in the outer court and three palaces in the inner court were equipped with 120 lights.
“This upgrade on the lighting system not only allows spectators to see the original furnishings in the palace halls more clearly, but also presents the halls’ architectural structure, painting and antiques in their true colours,” the Deputy Head of the Palace Museum said.
It might sound easy and many might be wondering why lights weren’t installed before. But finding an adequate lighting system has been tricky business for heritage preservation experts. The interior has actually intentionally been kept in the dark in order to protect paintings, furniture and other objects from the damaging effects of light and heat.
The new lighting system consists of cool, LED lights fitted with ultraviolet and infrared proof filters, which will protect the historic relics inside the building. In 2014 a long-term study was conducted on sunlight both in and outside of the buildings. The new lights were designed to mimic natural light, based on these findings.
According to a report, all of the halls of the Forbidden City will be equipped with lights by 2020.
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