Most tourists who visit Beijing for the first time consider the Forbidden City a place they must see. The Forbidden City, known as Gugong in Mandarin, once served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a symbol of ancient China. Although it is no longer China's political center, you can still feel its former glory once you are surrounded by the high walls in the courtyard. Its long history has left behind many precious architecture and cultural relics, making it one of modern China's most important cultural heritages.