In the foreground is a corner of the Imperial Forbidden City in Beijing. The tall building in the distance is Beijing Hotel. The building is actually a new addition to the famous hotel. Originally established in the early 20th century, the hotel was operated by the French, serving the VIP's that visited Beijing. After 1949, the hotel went through a number of expansions and revonations. In the Mao era, the hotel was reserved for the guests of the Chinese government. A five-star hotel, the facility is now open to the public.