Decoding a soaring dragon

Former imperial site in Vietnam leaves an intriguing opportunity for cross-border cooperation, reports Wang Kaihao in Hanoi.

Describing his last decade's work at the Palace Museum in Beijing, Wu Wei says it was often like "archaeology on the roof".

The researcher, who has worked in the archaeology department of the museum, also known as the Forbidden City, cherishes his time walking along the eaves of the former royal structure.

The Forbidden City functioned as China's imperial palace from 1420 to 1911, during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, marking the apex of ancient Chinese palatial constructions. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of Beijing is also the world's largest surviving architectural complex with wooden structures.