The North Coast’s “Forbidden City”

For 500 years (1420–1924), China’s “Forbidden City” served as the exclusive realm of 24 emperors—off-limits to the public, shielded by high walls, massive gates, stern guards, and a deep, wide moat. Today, that once-impenetrable palace sits in the heart of Beijing as one of the world’s most famous tourist landmarks, welcoming millions of visitors from …