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.
Confucian principles of order and hierarchy shape the spatial organization, with inner courts reserved for the imperial family and outer sections serving administrative functions. The north-south architectural alignment follows traditional Chinese cosmology, positioning the ruler at the center of the universe. This arrangement reflected the emperor's role as intermediary between heaven and earth.
Tickets require advance booking through official channels, with operating hours from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM during high season between April and October. Visitors enter through the Meridian Gate on the south side and exit via the northern gate. Audio guides are provided in multiple languages. Restrooms and refreshment stands appear throughout the grounds. Metro station Tiananmen East is a 10-minute walk from the entrance.
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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