Forbidden City Watchtower, Beijing, China
The Forbidden City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. The watchtowers were built atop 10-meter-high walls, and were strategically placed for 360-degree surveillance to protect the emperor from potential threats. Their design, featuring multiple windows, allowed for defensive firing from both front and flank positions. Considered the most complex structures in the Forbidden City, they are known for their, elegant appearance, which is often reflected in the surrounding moat. Their design includes numbers associated with the "magical" number 9 (9 beams, 18 pillars, 72 ridgepoles) to represent longevity. The watchtowers mark the four corners of the 3,400-meter-long, 10-meter-high wall that encloses the palace, bordering a 52-meter-wide moat.
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