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

So the master artist traveled to Beijing and shot in a former palace not far from the Forbidden City.

From The Daily Beast

When we arrived, we passed a full-scale replica of the Forbidden City, a Qin dynasty palace and various other amazing sets.

From The Daily Beast

"The world is going to be one before you die, sir," he said as we talked together just outside the walls of the Forbidden City.

From Project Gutenberg

Washington was a forbidden city to Germanic men and soon would banish the enemy women, too.

From Project Gutenberg

I turned away in disgust—turned my back contentedly and without regret on the mysterious land and the road to the Forbidden City.

From Project Gutenberg

I had a half-childish hope of being surprised, a memory of days when, a boy, I read of the great forbidden city.

From Project Gutenberg

This last is called the Purple Forbidden City, two and a quarter miles around it, and is the actual imperial residence.

From Project Gutenberg