The Forbidden City — Zheng He's Lost Command

Your quest begins in Beijing, on the immense Tiananmen Square, built in 1651 under the Qing dynasty. With its 440,000 m², it is the largest public square in the world and a central location in Chinese history, notably during the student protests of 1989. Facing you stands Tiananmen Gate, erected in 1417 under the Ming, 34.7 m high. It was here that Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. As Zheng He's emissary, you feel the weight of centuries as you pass through this historic gate, the former southern access to the Forbidden City, whose name means 'Gate of Heavenly Peace'.

Continue your journey to the Forbidden City, whose southern entrance is the spectacular Meridian Gate (午门), built in 1420. This complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 under Emperor Yongle, housing 980 buildings across 720,000 m². It served as the residence for 24 Ming and Qing emperors until 1912 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, as the largest ancient wooden palace in the world. As a loyal follower of Zheng He, whose voyages enriched the empire, you understand the importance of this imperial power center for preserving the lost map, a treasure for the Chinese nation.

Your route then takes you to the Imperial Ancestral Temple (太庙), founded in 1420 under the Ming dynasty, located east of the Forbidden City. This vast complex of 120,000 m² was the site of ancestral worship until 1911 and houses over 200 commemorative steles of emperors. Restored in 2005, it is part of the Zhongshan Park complex. Exploring this site, you search for clues in the inscriptions and ancestral symbols, imagining the solemn rituals that took place there, essential for the legitimacy and continuity of the dynasty Zheng He so devotedly served.

Leaving the imperial enclosures, you head towards the Ancient Beijing Observatory, built in 1442 under the Ming and restored in 1673 by Emperor Kangxi. This 14 m high tower, located 1 km southeast of Tiananmen, houses 17th-century bronze astronomical instruments and was used until 1929 for official observations. As a 15th-century explorer, Zheng He relied on astronomical science for his distant navigations. Here, you examine the stars and sundials, hoping that the constellations will reveal the location of the lost map, a celestial secret for the empire's security.

Your quest concludes near Qianmen Gate (正阳门), erected in 1419 under the Ming, with its 38 m high watchtower. This gate was the southern entrance to Beijing's old inner city and was restored in 1900 after damage from the Boxer Rebellion, retaining historical tram tracks. Exploring this Ming-Qing historical monument, you piece together the final fragments of the enigma. This thematic circuit through Beijing's heritage has allowed you to understand the history of Beijing, from Emperor Yongle to Chongzhen, and through Kangxi. You have discovered an interactive family visit to Beijing, a GPS scavenger hunt that reveals Beijing's monuments and the influence of augmented reality on tourism.