In ancient times, the Forbidden City, as a royal palace, had a construction area of about 150,000 square kilometers, and there were more than 9,000 large and small rooms, which housed the entire royal family, as well as tens of thousands of eunuchs and maids who served it. So, such a huge population, how to solve the daily drinking water?
First of all, we all know that there are more than 70 wells in the Forbidden City, and we can see the drainage system and well distribution in the Forbidden City. It can be said that these 70 wells meet their daily drinking water and daily water use is completely no problem.
However, according to records, the water drunk in the imperial palace at that time was the spring water of Yuquan Mountain, and every day, there would be water trucks into the city to deliver water. So, why are there more than 70 wells in the palace, do not drink well water, but prefer to go far and far, and transport spring water from Yuquan Mountain to drink?
There are roughly three reasons, the first of which is that the well water is not very drinkable. According to records, the well water in this well is not drinkable, even more bitter than the river water.
The second reason was that no one dared to drink the water from the wells, and the palace lily deceived me, not knowing how many unjust souls had been in these wells. The most famous thing is probably that Cixi threw Zhenfei into a well and salvaged her a year later. And these well water, as groundwater, are basically circulating with each other. I would like to ask, who dares to drink such water?
The third reason is the safety of security, the palace's deceit, conspiracy and other things are really innumerable, if who casts a poison in this well, who knows? Therefore, for safety reasons, well water is also not used as a reason for drinking water considerations.
However, in addition to drinking, the water in these wells basically meets the basic needs of domestic water in the palace.