Forbidden City

noun

1. a walled section of Peking (now Beijing), built in the 15th century, containing the imperial palace and other buildings of the imperial government of China.

Forbidden City

noun

1. Lhasa, Tibet: once famed for its inaccessibility and hostility to strangers
2. a walled section of Beijing, China, enclosing the Imperial Palace and associated buildings of the former Chinese Empire

Word History and Origins

Origin of Forbidden City¹

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

Just north of the Temple of Heaven is the Forbidden City, where Chinese emperors lived for almost 500 years.

From BBC

I remember him turning up uncharacteristically early at the Forbidden City in Beijing to meet China’s vice-premier and finding himself locked out.

From BBC

Hundreds of tourists lined the streets leading to gates to enter Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

From Seattle Times

The mortar that holds together some of China’s most famous structures — including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City — includes traces of starch from sticky rice.

From Seattle Times

The intense rain, which is expected to last until today, prompted Beijing to close tourist attractions — like the Forbidden City.

From New York Times