Forbidden City in Beijing, China

Forbidden City in Beijing, China

Photo © John Wang / Getty Images

Occupying a rectangular area of more than 720,000 square meters, the Forbidden City was the imperial home of 24 emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. From their throne in the Forbidden City, they governed the country by holding court sessions with their ministers, issuing imperial edicts and initiating military expeditions.

The Forbidden City is one of the largest and best-preserved palace complexes in the world. There are over a million rare and valuable objects in the Gugong Museum.