10 Ticks//A palace porch in the Forbidden City

Each week 10 Ticks brings you a taste of everyday life in China. 10 Ticks is also a reminder to pray for the 90% of China's massive population that is not yet Christian.

The Forbidden City contains a number of buildings that were used to house members of the royal family and their attendants, to provide administrative offices, to serve as official meeting areas, and to offer opportunities to worship.

10 Ticks//The entrance to Beijing's Forbidden City

Each week 10 Ticks brings you a taste of everyday life in China. 10 Ticks is also a reminder to pray for the 90% of China's massive population that is not yet Christian.

Beyond this entrance lies the compound that China’s ancient royal family called home: the Forbidden City.

10 Ticks//Inside Beijing's Forbidden City

Each week 10 Ticks brings you a taste of everyday life in China. 10 Ticks is also a reminder to pray for the 90% of China's massive population that is not yet Christian.

China’s ancient royal family called the Forbidden City home. Many members of the family never — or at least infrequently — were allowed to leave this compound. It was a gilded cage, but a cage nonetheless.

10 Ticks//Beijing shoppers

Shoppers stroll through a mall in Beijing.