The Forbidden City in Beijing: Ancient Palace Complex Re-listed as World Heritage in 2024

The Forbidden City in Beijing served as the imperial palace for twenty-four emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Located on the central axis of Beijing, it was initially constructed in the fourth year of Emperor Yongle's reign (1406) and completed in the eighteenth year (1420). It is the largest and most well-preserved ancient palace complex in the world. The Forbidden City covers an area of approximately 720,000 square meters, with a building area of about 150,000 square meters. It consists of over seventy palaces and more than 9,999 rooms. The complex is rectangular, measuring 961 meters from north to south and 753 meters from east to west, surrounded by a 10-meter-high wall and a 52-meter-wide moat. Each corner of the wall features a beautifully designed corner tower, famously described as having 'nine beams, eighteen pillars, and seventy-two ridges,' highlighting its intricate structure. The layout of the Forbidden City strictly follows the imperial city planning principle of 'front court, rear market, left ancestral temple, right altar,' with the three main halls (Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and Hall of Preserving Harmony) at its center, clearly distinguishing the outer court from the inner court. The outer court was used for state ceremonies, while the inner court served as the residence of the emperor and empress. The architecture of the Forbidden City features various roof styles, predominantly yellow tiles, with green tiles used for the residences of princes and other colors for gardens or decorations. On October 10, 1925, the Palace Museum was officially established, becoming the largest museum of ancient cultural and artistic heritage in China. In 1987, the Forbidden City was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. In 2024, the Forbidden City in Beijing, as part of the 'Central Axis of Beijing: A Masterpiece of the Ideal Capital Order of China,' will be re-listed as a World Heritage site.