life in the forbidden city
The Forbidden City is one of the most famous historical sites in Beijing, China. The Forbidden City, also known as Gugong (Former Palace), was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to the end of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). It served as the home of emperors and their households as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years. Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 180 acres.
Can you imagine how everyday life in the Palace was? Although the emperor and his court moved daily around buildings of stunning beauty, contemplated extraordinary collections of art and played in gardens beyond compare, their privileged life of luxury was not as perfect as we can imagine.
Enter the website and explore the history, the places, the people and the everyday life in the Forbidden City.