The Forbidden City, was the former Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (the years 1420 to 1912). The Forbidden City served as the home of emperors and their households and was the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years. Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 72 hectares (over 180 acres). The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
Crédito:
Album / Universal Images Group / Universal History Archive