This is the most expensive property in the world: It is worth as much as 70 billion dollars VIDEO

Although its value has never been officially assessed — nor could the complex ever realistically be sold — some media and analytical estimates place its worth at as much as 70 billion dollars.

The reason for such astronomical figures is not only the enormous size of the complex, but also its historical, cultural, and political significance.

Imperial city in the heart of Beijing

The Forbidden City served as the home of Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years — from the 15th century until the fall of the last Chinese dynasty at the beginning of the 20th century.

The complex covers an area of around 720,000 square meters and contains nearly 1,000 buildings with more than 8,000 rooms, making it the largest preserved imperial palace complex in the world.

The name “Forbidden City” originated because ordinary citizens were once forbidden from entering without special imperial permission.

Today, it has been transformed into a museum and is one of the most visited tourist attractions on the planet. It is also protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.