Forbidden City is the most visited UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world, having averaged around 15 million visitors annually since 2012. In 2016 alone, the site received more than 16 million visitors. The Forbidden City, which is located in Beijing, China, is a palace complex that was in use from the Ming Dynasty in 1420 to the end of Qing Dynasty in 1912. It was the home of the emperors and families and was the political and cultural center of the Chinese government. The Forbidden City was constructed between 1406 and 1420 on 180 acres and consists of 980 buildings in total. The palace has influenced much of the architectural development in East Asia. The site currently houses the Palace Museum which is opened to the public.