This amazing website provides you with access to an immersive 3-dimensional virtual world where you can celebrate and explore aspects of Chinese culture and history.
When you first enter the virtual Forbidden City, you can choose to either use the English or Chinese (simplified) or (traditional) interface.

"The virtual Forbidden City is a partnership between the Palace Museum and IBM. The goal of the project is to provide the means for a world-wide audience to celebrate and explore aspects of Chinese culture and history."

This is one of the best resources for immersing students in the culture and language of China, on the web. Students are able to walk around the Forbidden City with an avatar and explore different areas of the City. The most amazing aspect of this project is that students can also communicate with others via text box.

For every section, there are maps available to both show you your current location and a history of your journey, and also to help you find interesting places to explore.

You can find majestic halls, animated scenes from Qing life, and even activities that give you an opportunity to learn by interacting with computer controlled characters.

Another excellent way to explore is to join your fellow visitors on one of the many guided tours that wind throughout the Virtual Forbidden City. These tours cover a range of interesting topics and lead you to places that help explore important themes about the design and use of the Forbidden City.

It takes a little while to set up, but it is a very valuable resource for students learning about Chinese culture and language.