At the heart of Beijing stands the Forbidden City, a vast palace complex that served as the centre of imperial China for centuries. Built to project power, control and hierarchy, it functioned as a self-contained world where emperors ruled, families lived and ceremonies shaped political life. Today, the former imperial residence offers a glimpse into how architecture was used to organise an empire.

At the centre of Beijing sits a place that once functioned as a city within a city. From above, the Forbidden City appears orderly and measured, enclosed by walls and surrounded…

At the heart of Beijing stands the Forbidden City, a vast palace complex that served as the centre of imperial China for centuries. Built to project power, control and hierarchy,…