History of the Forbidden City: China’s Imperial Palace
The Forbidden City (紫禁城) in Beijing was the political center of China for 500 years. Twenty-four emperors lived and ruled within its walls. It’s the largest palace complex in the world — 980 buildings, 9,999 rooms, and a history filled with intrigue, rebellion, and power.
Construction began in 1406 under Emperor Yongle of the Ming dynasty, who moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing. One million workers labored for 14 years. The timber came from the jungles of southwest China. The stone blocks were dragged across ice roads during winter. The result was a palace so grand that it was literally forbidden — commoners could not enter or even approach it on pain of death.
Highlights include: the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), where the emperor held court; the Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫), the emperor’s residence; and the Imperial Garden (御花园), a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site and draws 15 million visitors annually.