In November 2017, US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump visited the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, in Beijing, where centuries of imperial history unfolded beneath the red walls and golden roofs. They toured the vast palace complex, pausing to admire its intricate architecture and listen to insights into its past. They also attended a Peking Opera performance at the historic Belvedere of Pleasant Sounds, an imperial theater in the Forbidden City.

As the former residence of China's emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City is a national landmark spanning about 72 hectares. Its grand halls, aligned along a central axis, offer a sweeping view of China's political and cultural history.