Part I: How China’s Forbidden City has survived centuries of conflict and disasters

The Forbidden City complex in the cof Beijing was the royal residence and seat of the Chinese government for five centuries. The impressive complex contains more than 8,700 rooms, in buildings constructed without a single nail or drop of glue. In the first part our special series on this architectural wonder, we look at the durable construction techniques that have allowed the Forbidden City to withstand the test of time.

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This is part one of a series made in collaboration with the the SCMP Infographics team. The videos are based on their work chronicling the stories behind Beijing's majestic Forbidden City.