This Day, That Year

Item from April 14, 1999, in China Daily: Workers place cement slabs on the bed of the Tongzi Moat around the Forbidden City in Beijing. The moat has been given a thorough cleanup in the last few months. The bricks are designed to improve water-holding ability and curb subsidence.

The Tongzi Moat was designed and built with the imperial palace during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It served as the last line of defense for the emperors.

Together with the vast complex of the Forbidden City, the waterway has since become a major attraction of the capital for visitors from across the world.