The Six Eastern Palaces

The Six Eastern Palaces, like the Western Palaces, stand on the other side of the north-south alley.

Most of the Palaces were restored in the 17th century, these palaces were also the living quarters for the empresses and concubines.

Now they have mostly been turned into some special museums like, the Museum of Bronze, the Museum of Porcelain and the Museum of Arts and Crafts of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

East of the Six Palaces lay the store-houses for tea and some of the brocades. The Five Northern Kitchens (Bei Wu Chu) to the north fed everyone living in the eastern part of the palace.