The Forbidden City is the imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing, China. Built between 1406 and 1420 during the Ming dynasty, it served as the home of 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties and the center of Chinese political power for over five centuries. The complex covers about 72 hectares and includes nearly a thousand buildings, arranged along a central north–south axis. After the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912, the palace was transformed into the Palace Museum in 1925. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a major cultural landmark reflecting Chinese imperial architecture, ritual symbolism, and historical continuity.
Location: Beijing, China
Coordinates: 39.9172757, 116.3907694
Learn more: Wikipedia