Our tour started with a visit to the Forbidden City. First buildings were constructed there in 1406, roughly coinciding with the last stages of feudalism in Europe. For more than 500 years, the Forbidden City was the residence of the Emperor and his retinue. Commoners weren't allowed inside--hence the name. (But, since the Emperor was attended by thousands of servants, and because many ministers and officials conducted governmental business here, the Forbidden City wasn't exactly empty!) It must have been a bustling place through the reign of the last emperor. Now it thrives as a tourist attraction.
The scale is huge. The buildings are enormous, and the grounds are extensive. From an imposing main entrance, visitors pass through a series of huge buildings and large courtyards.