Forbidden City to close for 13 days

The Forbidden City will not open to the public from Aug. 22 to Sept. 3, the Palace Museum confirmed Friday.

North to the Tian'anmen Square, the 600-year-old imperial palace is the center point for the upcoming military parade on Sept. 3, which will mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II and the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Beijing has introduced a number of preparatory measures for the event, including traffic restrictions which ban half of all cars from the road until Sept. 3, and adjustment of bus and subway timetables.

Several parts of the city will also be cordoned off on Saturday and Sunday due to the rehearsal of the parade.