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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.head.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js.html"); ?>
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. 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Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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<a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Texas Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Texas</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:TXAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">TXAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Texas</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-texas/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-KATY-TX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPTexas" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPTX" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarptx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum - Katy, TX"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/katy-tx/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Katy</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-disrupt-aging-book-club-11252024-pwn732szj7q.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-DISRUPT-AGING-BOOK-CLUB">Disrupt Aging Book Club</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-nm-fitness-virtual-yoga-fusion-class-11252024-vfns4ghnpl5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-ENHANCE-YOUR-WORKOUT-WITH-YOGA-FUSION">Enhance Your Workout With Yoga Fusion</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-pa-moving-with-milly-11252024-nxn278l9wf5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVING-WITH-MILLY-CHAIR-EXERCISES-FOR-IMPROVED-MOBILITY">Moving with Milly: Chair Exercises for Improved Mobility</a></h2> <p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/katy-tx/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-KATY-TX">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Guided tours take you back to the third" name="description"/> <meta content="Forbidden, Gardens, Museum, Katy, TX" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Forbidden Gardens Museum"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="29.8018"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-95.7892"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Forbidden Gardens Museum</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>23500 Franz Road</div> <div> <span>Katy</span>, <span>TX</span> <span>77493</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Forbidden Gardens Museum</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 281-347-8000</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Forbidden+Gardens+Museum%2C+23500+Franz+Road%2C+Katy%2C+TX+77493" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas,is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Forbidden Gardens is a must - see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. History At the beginning of the third century B.C.E., China as we think of it today did not exist. In its place were seven warring states who had been fighting one another for five hundred years. Yeng Zheng (later Qui Shihuang Di) was the ruler of the state of Qin. He became ruler at the age of thirteen, although his mother and an advisor acted as regents for him until he turned twenty-one. During his reign, Qin (pronounced "chin") amassed huge armies of soldiers and began conquering the six other states one at a time. He ruled the states with an iron fist. Qin conquered all six states, unifying to the nation of China and giving it it's name. Qin unified the states by standardizing the laws, weights and measures, the currency, and the writing system. He built roadways and a canal system linking the states. He established a bureaucracy that endured until the early 1900's, perhaps the longest reigning government in the history of mankind. Qin has also been credited with the start of the Great Wall of China. Qin is considered by most historians to be the greatest emperor in Chinese history, although few would call him a great man. His brutal reign was filled with death, betrayal, punishment, and horror. During his reign, Emperor Qin began construction of a magnificent tomb where he would be buried upon death. To protect his body, Qin began construction of four pits, each of which would contain an army of soldiers. All records and historical documents of the tomb were lost or destroyed over the last 2,000 years. When the tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974, historians found that only three of the four pits had been filled with terra-cotta soldiers. The fourth pit was empty. The historians believe the Emperor either died or a military disruption occurred which ceased production. Now lets jump ahead to the 15th century. Between 1406 and 1420, over two hundred and fifty acres of palaces and government buildings were built in Beijing. These palaces became known as the Forbidden City because the general populace was not allowed inside past the gates. The Forbidden City was exclusively for use by the Imperial family, the emperor's military personnel and his support staff. For 500 years, it served as home to the Emperor and the seat of government. In 1949, the Forbidden City was opened to the public as a Chinese National Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/katy-tx/report/place/forbidden-gardens-museum-katy-tx.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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