The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of China from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. It is located in the centre of Beijing. For almost five centuries it served as the residence of the Emperor and his household staff, as well as being the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. It was named The Forbidden City because only the emperor, his family and employees had special permission to enter the building complex of the palace. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.