Forbidden City

The Forbidden City stands as a magnificent testament to Chinese imperial architecture and history. Built between 1406 and 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, this sprawling complex covers 72 hectares with 980 surviving buildings containing 8,704 rooms. The palace served as the political and ceremonial center of Chinese government for nearly 500 years, from the Ming Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty until 1912. Its name 'Forbidden City' comes from the fact that common people were forbidden to enter without special permission. The complex is divided into two main sections: the Outer Court where emperors conducted state affairs, and the Inner Court where the imperial family lived. The entire complex is surrounded by a 10-meter-high wall and a 52-meter-wide moat, creating a self-contained world of imperial power and tradition. Today, it houses the Palace Museum with over 1.8 million cultural relics, making it one of the most important cultural heritage sites in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.