Have you ever visited the Forbidden City?
In the past, all buildings in Beijing were low except for (除了) the Forbidden City. From outside, ordinary people could only imagine what it looked like inside.
It was built from 1406 to 1420 by the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the Yongle Emperor.
After that, it was the living and working place of 14 emperors of the Ming Dynasty and 10 emperors of the Qing Dynasty.
During those times, the Forbidden City was where the country's supreme power could be found. It saw the highs and lows of the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as the end of feudal autocratic monarchy (封建君主专制) in China.
The cultural relics (遗物) and documents in the palace show how the royal (皇家的) families lived.
You can read Tales of the Forbidden City. It's a book which introduces the Forbidden City in detail.
For world leaders who visit China, it has become a must-see.
A. They are still used today for historical research. B. Emperors were born, lived, fought and died there. C. The Forbidden City takes up 720,000 square meters in the heart of Beijing. D. In 1987, the Forbidden City was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. E. It is the world's largest palace that attracts over 17 million visitors every year. |
