China is home to the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace complex in Beijing.
The palace was constructed between 1406 and 1420 during the Ming dynasty, under the Yongle Emperor. It became the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government and housed 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The complex contains nearly 1,000 surviving buildings and is surrounded by a large defensive wall and moat. Its name reflects the historical restriction on ordinary people entering without official permission.
The Forbidden City is now the Palace Museum. It is often confused with the wider imperial city of Beijing, but the Forbidden City specifically refers to the palace compound at its center.