The Forbidden City, located in the heart of Beijing, China, is one of the most iconic historical sites in the world. The Forbidden City is known by several names. Its official name in Chinese is "Zijin Cheng", which translates to "Purple Forbidden City." It is also referred to as the "Imperial Palace" and "Gugong", which means "Former Palace.Construction of the Forbidden City began in 1406 during the Ming Dynasty and was completed in 1420. It served as the imperial palace and political center of China for nearly 500 years, spanning both the Ming and Qing Dynasties.