Forbidden City, Imperial palace complex in central Beijing, China
The site spans 72 hectares (178 acres) with nearly one thousand structures enclosed by a 10-meter (33-foot) high wall and a 52-meter (170-foot) wide moat. Main buildings display curved roofs covered with yellow glazed tiles supported by massive wooden columns. Multiple courtyards link various pavilions, halls, and residential quarters through a network of gates and bridges.
Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty initiated construction in 1406, employing over one million workers for a project that lasted 14 years. Twenty-four emperors from two dynasties governed China from these halls until Puyi abdicated in 1912. The site opened as a public museum in 1925 and gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987.
The name Zijincheng, first recorded in 1576, links the palace to the Ziwei Star, home of the Jade Emperor in Chinese astrology; the emperor's residence was its earthly counterpart. Qing rulers made nameplates bilingual in Chinese and Manchu and added shamanist elements to the palace. The site is now called Gugong, "Former Palace", and its museum is the Palace Museum.
The complex measures 961 meters north to south and 753 meters east to west, enclosed by a 10-meter wall and a 52-meter moat. Four gates pierce the wall: the Meridian Gate to the south, the Gate of Divine Prowess to the north, and the East and West Glorious Gates. Visitors pass from the outer court to the inner court through the Gate of Heavenly Purity.
Over 1.8 million works of art and artifacts fill the collection, including ancient bronzes, porcelain pieces, paintings, and calligraphy scrolls. Common citizens faced death penalty for entering without imperial permission, which explains the compound's name. Nine dragons appear frequently in architectural decoration, as this number represents divine power in Chinese numerology.
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