After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, the Hongwu Ming Dynasty emperor moved the capital from Beijing to Nanjing in 1369 and ordered the destruction of Yuan buildings.

The construction of the Forbidden City began in 1402 under the Chengzu emperor, Zhu Di, as a result of a coup d’état to solidify his power.

Construction of the Forbidden City, a massive imperial palace complex in Beijing, began in 1406 during the Ming dynasty.

From 1409 onwards, the Emperor focused on spending most of his time overseeing the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The construction lasted 14 years and involved a massive workforce of 100,000 skilled artisans and up to a million workers and slaves.

Around 1417, significant reconstruction work began on the capital city, leading to the completion of major buildings and infrastructure. The emperor never returned to Nanjing after this period.

The construction of the Forbidden City was completed in 1420, marking it as the official imperial residence for emperors in China for nearly 500 years.

In 1421, Beijing formally became the national capital, leading to increased deliveries of grain and prosperity for the Forbidden City and Beijing.

In 1601, Matteo Ricci, a European, became the first to enter the Forbidden City after being invited by the Wanli Emperor due to his scientific expertise.

On October 30, 1644, about 5 months after the Qing army occupied the capital, Hong Taiji's son Fulin became the Emperor Shunzhi. A ceremony was held at the Forbidden City to proclaim the young Shunzhi Emperor as ruler of all China under the Qing Dynasty.

Built by the Qianlong Emperor in anticipation of his retirement, featuring an 'outer court', an 'inner court', and gardens and temples.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was built in 1743 during the Qing dynasty. It served as the residence of the Emperor, starting from the Yongzheng Emperor.

During the Second Opium War in 1860, Anglo-French forces took control of the Forbidden City and occupied it until the end of the war.

In 1874, Empress dowager Cixi renovated the Palace of Eternal Spring in the west part of the inner court of the Forbidden City for her fortieth birthday, altering the original layout of the palace compounds.

In 1884, Empress dowager Cixi renovated the Palace of Gathered Elegance in the west part of the inner court of the Forbidden City for her fiftieth birthday, further changing the architectural layout of the inner court.

In 1900, during the Boxer Revolt, Empress Dowager Cixi fled the Forbidden City, leaving it occupied by treaty forces until the following year.

In 1912, Puyi, the last emperor of China, abdicated, marking the end of imperial rule in China.

In 1923, a fire consumed the gardens of the Palace of Establishing Prosperity, where the Qianlong Emperor's art collection was stored, leading to suspicions of embezzlement.

Puyi, the last Qing emperor, secretly left the Forbidden City and Beijing in 1924. This marked the end of the imperial presence in the Forbidden City.

On October 10, 1925, the Palace Museum was established in the Forbidden City, where a large amount of treasures and curiosities were gradually catalogued and put on public display.

The Japanese invasion of China in 1933 led to the evacuation of national treasures from the Forbidden City to Sichuan for safekeeping. This was done to protect the valuable artifacts from potential damage or theft.

At the end of World War II in 1945, the artifacts that were evacuated from the Forbidden City during the Japanese invasion were transferred back to Nanjing and Beijing. This marked the return of the cultural treasures to their original location.

During the Chinese civil war in 1948, the retreating Nationalists transported about 600,000 pieces of artifacts from Nanjing to Taiwan. These treasures, originally from the Forbidden City, are now housed in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

In 1949, the People's Republic of China was proclaimed at Tiananmen Square, directly in front of the Forbidden City, marking a significant historical event.

More than 10 thousand boxes of treasures were transported back to the Palace Museum in Beijing in 1951, while the rest remained in the Nanjing Museum. After a series of journeys and wars, these national treasures finally came back home and the Palace Museum was re-opened to the public.

The Forbidden City in Beijing was listed as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics in 1961, recognizing its importance in Chinese history and culture.

Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi's autobiography detailing his life journey from being an emperor to an ordinary citizen, providing insights into the turbulent times of China's history.

In 1965, the artifacts from the Forbidden City that were transported to Taiwan became the core collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon of the United States visited the Forbidden City during his visit to China.

Ray Huang's book focusing on the year 1587, highlighting the decline of the Ming Dynasty and the events that led to its weakening.

Yu Zhuoyun's book exploring the grandeur and history of the palaces within the Forbidden City, shedding light on their significance and architectural beauty.

In 1987, the Beijing Imperial Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the Shenyang Imperial Palace included as an extension project, collectively known as the Ming and Qing Imperial Palaces. These palaces served as the highest seat of imperial power for five centuries (1416-1911), showcasing invaluable evidence of Chinese civilization during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

In 1996, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage issued Regulations Concerning the Management of the Palace Museum, providing detailed prescriptions on the protection of the settings of the Imperial Palaces and ensuring their maximal protection.

Since 2000, the Beijing municipal government has been working to remove governmental and military institutions from historical buildings near the Forbidden City, establishing a park around the remaining parts of the Imperial City wall.

In 2003, the people's government of Shenyang City issued the Regulations on the Protection of the Imperial Palace, Fuling Tomb, and Zhaoling Tomb of Shenyang, further ensuring the preservation of the historical arrangement and style of the palace buildings.

The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty in Shenyang, also known as Houjin Palace or Shenglin Palace, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004. This recognition acknowledges its historical and architectural importance.

A sixteen-year restoration project was initiated in 2005 to repair and restore all buildings in the Forbidden City to their pre-1912 state, marking the largest restoration effort in two centuries.

In 2006, Chinese media reported on souvenir shops in the Forbidden City that refused entry to Chinese citizens, raising concerns about discriminatory practices and commercialization within the historic site.

Arthur Cotterell's exploration of China's imperial capitals, offering a unique perspective on the Celestial Empire's historical and cultural significance.

Geremie R Barmé's comprehensive study of the Forbidden City, providing in-depth insights into its history, architecture, and cultural importance.

In 2013, the Shoukang Palace was officially opened to the public in the Forbidden City after a sixteen-year restoration project.

In 2015, a sculpture museum was opened in the Cining Palace in the Forbidden City.

At the end of 2016, the Palace Museum announced the discovery of 55,132 previously unlisted items, increasing the total number of items in the collection to 1,862,690.

On November 8, 2017, President Trump became the first United States President to be granted a state dinner in the Forbidden City since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The Forbidden City Museum held a theme promotion event to promote the protection of intellectual property rights and high-quality development in the field of cultural heritage, announcing the establishment of a cooperation enterprise whitelist system.

The Forbidden City Museum is hosting the 'Third Zero Waste Catering Culture Week' event, promoting the importance of cherishing and not wasting food.

The Palace Museum and China Siyuan Project Foundation signed a framework agreement to outline their collaboration.

The Palace Museum and Communication University of China signed a strategic cooperation agreement to discuss future development.

The Palace Museum and Science and Technology Daily collaborated to host the fourth edition of the Youth Cultural and Scientific Forum.

The Forbidden City Bookstore pop-up store opened on Chunxi Road with the theme 'History Never Fades, Prosperity Continues'.

The joint work meeting of Tsinghua University and the Palace Museum Cultural Heritage Research Center for the years 2022-2023 was held.

The Forbidden City Museum issued a recruitment notice for the 3rd seminar focusing on Forbidden City studies and ancient architectural construction. The seminar aims to educate participants on the architectural heritage of the Forbidden City and ancient building techniques.

A project titled 'R&D and Application of Key Technologies and Equipment for Mobile Cultural Relics X-ray CT Imaging' was initiated at the Forbidden City. The project aims to develop advanced imaging technology for cultural relics.

The Forbidden City celebrates International Zero Waste Day with a focus on environmental sustainability and innovative cultural products.

Announcement regarding fast booking and ticket checking measures for underage group visitors during the May Day holiday in 2024 at the Forbidden City Museum.

The Forbidden City Museum has been approved for the National Art Fund (General Project) for the year 2024, receiving support for the 'Chinese Official Color Painting Pattern Art Design Creative Talent Training' program.

The sixth installment of the 'Scholars of the Forbidden City Lecture Series' will take place at the Yangxin Hall, sharing various stories and insights about the Forbidden City.