| Abstract | For more than 500 years it was a forbidden world for all but the highest in the land. Without special permission, no one could even venture near the crimson wall that encircled the palace known as the Forbidden City. The 720,000 sq m complex in the centre of Beijing served as the incarnation of imperial power in feudal China.It witnessed the vicissitudes of 25 emperors and their royal families and courts from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Nowadays, it is open to the public, attracting about 3,000 visitors a day from all over the world. They come to learn about the governance and architectural grandeur of ancient China, to enjoy exquisite works of art and to gain a feeling for the opulence of royal life. |
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