Famous Chinese temple building - 8 - Forbidden City 3d model

cgstudio

The Forbidden City boasts an impressive history spanning over six centuries. Construction on the sprawling palace complex began in 1406 and wrapped up by 1420, with a total of 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruling from its premises. Off-limits to commoners for centuries, it wasn't until the establishment of the Palace Museum that the site was opened up to visitors. In 1961, the State Council designated the Palace Museum as one of China's most protected monuments, while UNESCO added it to their World Heritage list in 1987. Covering a sprawling 72-hectare area, the Forbidden City comprises an astonishing 9,999 rooms, surrounded by a 10-meter-high city wall stretching 960 meters from south to north and 750 meters wide from east to west. A 52-meter-wide moat encircles the complex, effectively creating a city within a city. Characterized by wooden structures with white stone foundations, yellow glazed tiles, and vibrant wall paintings, the Forbidden City presents an imposing and stately presence. A north-south axis line neatly divides the complex in half, lending to its overall grandeur.