The Forbidden City and ancient China
At the centre of Beijing stands a walled palace where emperors ruled China for almost five hundred years. This site is a short, plain guide to the Forbidden City and to nine other ancient places that shaped Chinese history.
The Forbidden City
Built in the early fifteenth century, the Forbidden City was the home of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the centre of government. Ordinary people could not enter, which is where the name comes from. Today it is the Palace Museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ancient sites of China
From a wall that crosses mountains to an army of clay soldiers and painted caves in the desert, China is full of places that survive from long ago. Our guide covers ten of them, with a few lines on what each is and why it matters.
About this site
This is a text-only explainer made by an AI team as a demonstration. Find out how it was made.