Marble Dragon Heads
These marble dragon heads lie beneath the Taihedian (Hall of Supreme Harmony). There are three flights of marble steps leading up to the 8 meter high triple tiered marble terrace on which the Taihedian stands. Each tier is surrounded with marble balustrades. A total of 1,414 elaborately fretted railing boards and 1,460 balustrades carved with dragons and phoenixes were built on the 25,000 square meter surface. And drainage outlets were also built at the bottom of the balustrades. There are a total of 1,142 marble dragon heads below the columns of the three tier terrace, functioned both as decorations and as rainspouts. Visitors will enjoy the spectacular sight when water pours out from the mouths of 1,142 dragon heads on rainy days 🙂
Images of China through English Eyes 