For many years, I read several features and watched various documentaries regarding the Forbidden City in Beijing.

However, once I found myself in front of Wumen, its main entrance, I simply stood in silence and awe.

At an altitude of 38 metres, this area, also known as the Meridian Gate, is the highest section of the Forbidden City.

Its imposing nature with five towers looking upon a square gave me shivers, especially when I recalled that, in the old days, captured prisoners-of-war used to be presented to the emperor there, whereas those sentenced for capital punishment were executed.

As originally intended by the builders, I felt small and bewildered in the presence of such magnitude and as I stepped further through the gate, I felt thankful that now this is only a tourist site.

The Forbidden City was built to serve as a royal palace.

Within it, the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties carried out their administration and lived with their families.

In fact, the site was used as the residence of 24 emperors until the last one, Aisin Gioro Puyi, emperor of the Qing Dynasty who abdicated in 1911.

Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty started the construction of the city in 1406 and its completion took 14 years.

Around 100,000 skilled technicians and millions of labourers were involved in this architectural masterpiece.

Most of the magnificent palatial complex was built out of wood and it is the largest wooden cluster still in existence in the world.

Other material included white marble from Fangshan, which is situated in the limits of Beijing, and granite from Hebei Province.

It was not easy to ship these stones to the city at the time. Yet the Chinese concluded their outstanding project by carrying the material on wooden rollers during summer and by sprinkling the roads with water in winter in order to make an ice path that could ease transportation.

Water for these paths was made available by digging out a well every half-kilometre.

Eventually, the whole city covered an area of 720,000 square metres and within it, one could find numerous palaces, pavilions, squares and gardens.

In all, 9,999.5 structures were built. The half-room accommodates only a staircase.

It is interesting to note that the emperor could not have 10,000 rooms in his city since it was believed that the deity emperor Hade had that amount of structures in his Heavenly Palace. Therefore, out of respect, his son, who was the emperor on earth, could not have a residence as spacious as that of his father.

Meanwhile, this huge number of rooms in the Forbidden City was intended to prolong the life of the earthly emperor.

Along the centuries, various parts of the ancient city were restored or rebuilt.

However, its basic form and layout remains in the original state. Its structures are spread out in an orderly manner alongside the central axis, which goes through from south to north.

Around 100,000 skilled technicians and millions of labourers were involved in this architectural masterpiece

This indicates the feudal hierarchy and reflects the traditional philosophy of yin-yang and the Five Elements.

The Forbidden City is surrounded by 10-metre-high walls with a tower at each corner. Outside these walls, a 52-metre-wide moat full of water encircles the city to strengthen its defence system.

Thousands of tourists from various countries visit this site daily and yet its grandeur is so amazing that its space seems unable to ever be exhausted.

The largest square in the Forbidden City is Taihe Dian, which has an area of 30,000 square metres. On its four sides are a number of bronze vats that used to be filled with water from the Inner Golden Water River to prevent fire. The river also had the function of draining off rain water and decorating the square.

On the other hand, in the square which lies in front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony, visitors can observe the hall where the emperors administered their power, held ceremonies and summoned ministers.

In this outer court, there are also the largest lions in the whole city; the male has a ball under his paw, the female plays with a cub.

Curiously, in the Forbidden City, there is also the Palace of Abstinence in which the emperor stayed and fasted for three days before he celebrated the sacrificial ceremony to the heaven and earth.

Contrarily, other areas within the magnificent city were intended to appease the emperor’s pleasures, including numerous structures reserved for his concubines.

These concubines were selected among the most attractive women and were expected to dedicate their lives in order to please their emperor.

Yet not all had the chance to sleep with the emperor; some only once, some not at all.

Those who did not attract the emperor’s interest were disregarded in a corner of the palace but they were never allowed to marry anybody else. Therefore, the main aim of these imperial concubines was the opportunity to bear a child of the emperor so that they could acquire more power.

Indeed, the one whose son managed to become the next emperor was even given the title of Empress Dowager.

Due to the city’s massive size, it is impossible to visit it all.

Nonetheless, the exquisite designs and colours that were used in its construction are truly fascinating and marvelous. Likewise, the ancient furniture and decorations that adorn its palaces and halls are superb.

When this city was still in use, no one was allowed to enter into it without a permit – hence the name the Forbidden City.

In 1925, when the Qing Dynasty was over, this site was turned into a museum and today it is also known as the Palace Museum.

Within this period, around one million relics were collected from the city and many are exhibited in its illustrious halls.

These artifacts include objects made from wood, bronze, pottery and porcelain that were designed by skilled artists during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Other masterpieces comprise precious artworks, sculptures and other treasures.

The Imperial Garden that lies at the end of the city is another attractive facet.

In ancient days, this was a private retreat for the imperial family and concubines.

There are around 20 structures in this garden, including pavilions, rooms, towers and halls. Each one bears a different style and are arranged symmetrically in hierarchical order. Rare flowers and trees were planted, some of which still survive. A pond of fish was installed to create a sense of harmony and peace.

One of the most renowned sections in the garden is Duixiushan; an artifical hill built out of Taihu Lake Rocks of varying shapes. Its centre was formed into a cave and two stairways spiral up to the top from its southern and eastern sides.

The imperial family used to climb this hill to reach the Pavilion of Imperial View, which sits at the top, to enjoy the spectacular scenery during significant celebrations.

In 1961 the Forbidden City was included in the List of the Historical Monuments and Cultural Relics under State Protection and in 1987, Unesco inscribed it as a World Heritage Site.