Standing/LyinginthecenterofBeijing,theImperialPalace,alsoknownastheForbiddenCity,coversanareaof720,000squaremeters.Itconsistsofdozensofcourtyardsandisprotectedbyhighwallsandamoatonallfoursides.Theemperorsoftwodynasties,theMingandtheQing,livedherewiththeirfamiliesandhundredsofcourtladiesandpalaceeunuchs.TheForbiddenCitywascompletedin1420duringtheMingDynasty,whichwasnotaccessibletothecommonpeople.ThePalacewasconvertedintoamuseumin1925andhasbeenopentothepublicafterthelastemperoroftheQingDynastywasdrivenoutofthePalacein1924.