In ancient China, it was easy to tell who was rich. From head to toe, the wealthiest had the best clothes.
Members of the royal family and high-ranking officials wore fancy bracelets. The jewelry was made of jade, gold, or silver. The rich ate more food, and it tasted better. They also had more leisure time.
China’s richest man was the emperor. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the emperor lived in an area that was off limits to ordinary people. It was called the Forbidden City. None except the emperor could enter it at night. Today, its many palaces are open to the public.
