IBM and the Palace Museum in Beijing have launched a virtual online version of the Forbidden City, the 720,000 square metre imperial palace in central Beijing that served for centuries as an exclusive realm for Chinese emperors.
The joint project took more than three years to create, and is
described as a “3-dimensional virtual world where visitors from around
the world can experience the Forbidden City in Beijing” The virtual
site can be viewed at www.beyondspaceandtime.org
"The rich cultural heritage of China's imperial past, embodied in the
Forbidden City for over five centuries, is now brought to life and
accessible to all through a virtual world," said Henry Chow, Chairman
of IBM's Greater China Group. "This initiative takes the online
experience to a new level of innovation with rich content, educational
storytelling, community and social networking features that represent
the next generation of 3D Internet applications."
First built in the early 14th Century, The Forbidden City served as
home to the emperor and was the political heart of Chinese government
from mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Though off-limits
to anyone not associated with the court during imperial times, The
Forbidden City is now one of China’s most-visited tourism attractions.
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