Cats of the Forbidden City: Shadow Guardians

The cats of the Forbidden City trace their lineage back to the Ming Dynasty. The imperial court once settled a clan of house cats within the Inner Court to keep mice at bay, and their descendants have never left. Today, dozens still roam the crimson walls — sunning themselves on the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, or sheltering behind the rockeries of the Imperial Garden. Each cat has a name, a file, and a devoted caretaker. Visitors often pause mid-stride in the long corridors, holding their breath, as if six centuries of history had briefly stood still.