简介：EveryonewhopassesthroughBeijing'sForbiddenCityleavesthegroundswithtwowordsontheirlips:magnificentandawe-inspiring.TheseatofimperialpowerduringtheMingandQingdynasties（1368-1911),sometwenty-fouremperorsruledthenationfromwithinthesewalls.NowmorecommonlyknownasthePalaceMuseum,theForbiddenCityliesatthecenteroftheChinesecapital.Extending750metersfromeasttowestand960metersfromnorthtosouth,the720,000-square-metercityisthelargestpalatialcomplexintheworld.Guardingthecityisa52-meter-wide,six-meter-deepmoat,andahugewall,whichrunsthreekilometersaroundthecityandstands10metershigh.Constructionlasted15years,involving100,000artisansandsomeonemillioncivilians.IfthebricksthatmakeuptheForbiddenCitycouldspeak,theywouldhavemanyaninterestingstorytotell.Herearejustafewanecdotes.