In the Palace of Purity the crown prince lived during the Ming dynasty, while during the Qing dynasty it was home to the empress.
Today the palace houses a collection of ancient jade objects. Jade has a long history in China, stretching back more than 8000 years. It was always very popular with the emperors because it symbolizes prosperity and happiness.
Jade reached the peak of its popularity during the Qing dynasty, especially during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, and here you can admire sophisticated works found nowhere else in the world.
An interesting fact: the Empress Dowager Cixi originally shared power with the Empress Dowager Ci’an, the empress and official wife of Emperor Xianfeng. In order to obtain all the power for herself, the ruthless, unscrupulous Cixi had her rival poisoned here in the Palace of Purity, where Ci’an lived!
