The Forbidden City is the most well-preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. The palace architecture represents the apex of traditional Chinese architectural achievement. Twenty-four emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties resided in the palace.
Three decades ago with the decline of the Communist regime, China became more open to the rest of the world. Corporate leaders and their allies built monuments within the walls of the Forbidden City to exhibit their affluence and power.
In 1961, the Chinese central government listed the Forbidden City as one of the important historical monuments subject to special preservation. In 1987, UNESCO nominated the landmark as a World Heritage site. The city houses the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
You can visit the Forbidden City to marvel at the traditional palace architecture and palace treasures. The imperial family and the court become alive when you hear the legends and anecdotes about life in the palace.
Royalty no longer occupies the Forbidden City, but its presence still remains a symbol of royal dominance in China. The image of its entrance gate appears on the seal of the People's Republic of China. The city's enormous official buildings still bring to mind the formidable power of the imperial state.
Today, the Forbidden City is a public museum, officially renamed the Palace Museum. In the Forbidden City you can closely examine the traditional architecture and marvel at the treasures of the imperial family and its court.
