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A view of Forbidden City from Meridian Gate. The Meridian Gate~Wumen is the southern entrance of the Forbidden City. Chinese emperors believed that they were the Sons of Heaven and therefore should live at the center of the universe.The Forbidden City was designed to be the centre of the ancient, walled city of Beijing. It is enclosed in a larger, walled area called the Imperial City. The Imperial City is, in turn, enclosed by the Inner City; to its south lies the Outer City.