Founded in 1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing had served as the center of Chinese royal power for five centuries. Following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, the imperial complex had been turned into the Palace Museum in 1925. In recognition of the role it has played, The 178-acre (72-hectare) compound with its breathtaking architecture was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. A key person who helped turn the Forbidden City into the Palace Museum was Mr. Wu Ying, father of Wu Shan, Wu Zuguang and Wu Zuqiang, all famous cultural figures in China.