Tens of thousands flock to China's Forbidden City on 100th anniversary

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00:00Once home to emperors, royalty and even concubines,

00:03China's Forbidden City and the National Palace Museum still occupies

00:07a very important part of China's national consciousness.

00:11It's here that the imperial court would meet an emperor's use to dine.

00:15What today marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of this place

00:19for the general public, and despite the rain, the place is packed.

00:23But ordinary folk pounding the pavements of this historic site

00:27is actually a relatively new development, as tour guide Wang Xiaoxin explains.

00:34In ancient times when the emperor was still in power,

00:36it was impossible for tourists to visit the Forbidden City.

00:40But now roughly 40,000 people visit daily.

00:43Today being the 100th anniversary, the Forbidden City has also organized

00:47special exhibitions specifically for the occasion.

00:50So many Chinese people have come especially to see these.

00:52Millions from all across the world visit this site every year. And for local visitors,

00:58the Forbidden City remains a source of pride.

01:01If people want to understand China, they'll definitely come here.

01:05Yes, because this is China's roots, I suppose.

01:09Beijing is the heart of China. This place has carried thousands of years of history,

01:14and soon China will achieve a very significant international standing.

01:19Beijing was once viewed by the Chinese as the center of the world itself.

01:24Forbidden City is therefore more than just a memory of Beijing's past.

01:29As China takes on an increasingly important role on the international stage,

01:34it's therefore also a reminder that China can and will

01:38take up that rightful position at the center of global affairs.

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