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This imperial palace complex in the centre of Beijing, China. It was the residence of 24 Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors. I was the centre of political power in China for over 500 years from 1420 to 1924. The Anglo-French forces took control of the palace and occupied it until the end of the war in 1860 in the Second Opium War. The Empress Dowager Cixi fled from the Forbidden City during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, leaving it to be occupied by forces of the treaty powers. After being the home of 24 emperors — 14 of the Ming dynasty and 10 of the Qing dynasty — the Forbidden City ceased being the political centre of China in 1912 with the abdication of Puyi, the last Emperor of China. Under an agreement with the new Republic of China government, Puyi remained in the Inner Court, while the Outer Court was given over to public use. This puppet emperor was evicted after a coup in 1924. I took this photo is 2005, and I published it in black and white.



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