故宮，又名紫禁城，為明清共二十四位皇帝統(tǒng)治中國近500年的皇宮。它位于北京市中心，在天安門廣場的北側(cè)，形狀為長方形。南北長960米，東西寬750米，占地72公頃，總建筑面積達(dá)15萬平方米。故宮是世界上現(xiàn)存規(guī)模最大、最完整的古代木構(gòu)宮殿。它分為外朝和內(nèi)廷兩部分，外朝是皇帝上朝處理國家大事的地方，內(nèi)廷是皇帝和皇室的居住地。1987年，故宮被聯(lián)合國教科文組織列入世界文化遺產(chǎn)。
　　【翻譯詞匯】
　　故宮 the Imperial Palace
　　紫禁城 the Forbidden City
　　天安門廣場 Tian’anmen Square
　　長方形 rectangular
　　建筑面積 floor space
　　現(xiàn)存 in existence
　　上朝 give audience
　　處理 handle
　　世界文化遺產(chǎn) World Cultural Heritage
　　【精彩譯文】
　　The Imperial Palace, also called the Forbidden City was the palace where the 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled China for roughly 500 years. The Imperial Palace is located in the center of Beijing, on the northern side of Tian’anmen Square, rectangular in shape, 960 meters from north to south and 750 meters wide from east to west, with an area of 72 hectares and a total floor space of 150 000 square meters. It’s the world’s largest and most integral palace made of wood in existence. The Forbidden City is divided into two parts: the outer court and the inner court. The outer court was the place where the emperors gave audience and handled state affairs, while the inner court was the living quarters for the emperors and their families. In 1987 the Imperial Palace was listed by the UNESCO as one of the World Cultural Heritage sites.