China's Forbidden City implements Monday closure

BEIJING -- The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in central Beijing will be closed to the public every Monday for renovation and maintenance starting on January 6, it announced Sunday.

The decision was made by museum authorities in November and went into effect on January 1, according to a Palace Museum statement.

The former imperial palace had been closed on Monday afternoons since January 2013. The closure is being extended to cover the whole of Monday.

Ancient architecture will be renovated, cultural relics protected and museum staff will receive training, the statement said.

On public holidays and Mondays during July and August, the museum will be open, it added.

In the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City was home to China's emperors and was the highest center of power for about 500 years. It attracts more than 14 million visitors annually.