The symbolic heart of Beijing, the "Purple Forbidden City" is quite a challenge to take in for visitors, who face a city within the city, made up of hundreds of palaces, shrines and pavilions. The seat of power of the Ming and Qing dynasties until 1911, it was built between 1404 and 1421. Every feature is symbolic, from the red roofs - the colour of joy - to the dragons, which dispense good luck and are dotted around the 70ha of this small city, once home to 10 000 people, including courtesans, dignitaries, eunuchs and concubines.