NOVA

Secrets of the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is the world’s biggest and most extravagant palace complex ever built. For five centuries, it was the power center of imperial China and survived wars, revolution, fires, and earthquakes. How did the Ming Emperor’s workforce construct its sprawling array of nearly 1,000 buildings and dozens of temples in a little over a decade?

Secrets of the Forbidden City Preview

30s

The Forbidden City is the world’s biggest and most extravagant palace complex ever built. For five centuries, it was the power center of imperial China and survived wars, revolution, fires, and earthquakes. How did the Ming Emperor’s workforce construct its sprawling array of nearly 1,000 buildings and dozens of temples in a little over a decade?

Previews + Extras

  • Forbidden City Facts: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Forbidden City Facts

    S44 E15 - 1m 34s

    Discover how Beijing’s Forbidden City, the largest palace complex in the world, has survived 500 years of earthquakes

Similar Shows

Make48: show-poster2x3

Make48

Science and Nature

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.