The magnificent Forbidden City is the world's largest and best-preserved imperial palace complex. Surrounded by a moat that is six meters deep and a ten-meter high wall are 9,999 rooms - just one room short of the number that ancient Chinese believed represented divine perfection.

Once having entered the Forbidden City, visitors are transported to a spacious world of great luxury that had a culture of its own.

For five centuries, this palace functioned as the administrative center of the country as well as being the pleasur"Tian'anmen Tower"e home of the emperors and empresses who were served by thousands of people.

Walking along the corridors and through various rooms it becomes easy to understand the impact of the rulers who lived here and their isolation from the rest of Chinese life. Regardless of how much history you have read, or movies featuring the Forbidden City you have seen, the place itself is not to be missed by any Beijing visitor. (Self-guided audio tour tapes are available in several languages at the entrance.)