Forbidden City

1420

Country

People's Republic of China

City

Donghuamen Subdistrict

Heritage designation

Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level

Architect

Kuai Xiang

UNESCO World Heritage

Yes

The Forbidden City is the imperial palace complex in the center of the Imperial City in Beijing, China. It was the residence of 24 Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors, and the center of political power in China for over 500 years from 1420 to 1924. The palace is now administered by the Palace Museum and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The Forbidden City is one of the most famous palaces in all of Chinese history, and is the largest preserved royal palace complex still standing in the world.