The Forbidden City Beyond Time and Space

"Beyond Time and Space: The Forbidden City" is a collaboration between IBM and the Palace Museum in Beijing. For over 500 years, the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties ruled China from the Forbidden City. The artistic and architectural treasures from this period have become a cultural hub of modern China.

The main objective of this project is to provide visitors from around the world with a way to appreciate and explore Chinese history and culture. As part of IBM's "Corporate Citizenship" initiative, it integrates world-class themes with cutting-edge technological innovation. It also showcases IBM’s leadership in virtual worlds and cultural preservation for the first time.

"Beyond Time and Space: The Forbidden City" is the world's first online virtual world dedicated to ethnic cultural heritage. This is a three-dimensional replica of the palace complex that spans several square kilometers, known as the "Virtual Forbidden City." The goal of the project partners is to create as authentic an experience as possible by integrating key concepts of harmony important to Chinese culture.

The "Virtual Forbidden City" does not offer a solitary virtual experience but allows visitors to meet and interact with each other, as well as engage with numerous volunteers, curators, and automated characters. To welcome a wide range of visitors, the "Virtual Forbidden City" provides a user-friendly interface. While exploring the "Virtual Forbidden City," you can choose to simply observe activities or participate in them to gain a deeper understanding of important aspects of the Qing dynasty, and even follow a tour guide to gain new insights into the stories of the "Forbidden City."

In addition, the "Virtual Forbidden City" offers unparalleled methods to help people plan their visits to the real "Palace Museum." Through experiencing the "Virtual Forbidden City," visitors to the "Palace Museum" will be able to better navigate routes and understand the significance of the palaces and other sights they see.

The team behind "Beyond Time and Space: The Forbidden City" sincerely thanks Wu Zhen and Michael Bacon for their contributions to the project.