Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been given a special access-all-areas tour of Beijing's stunning 600-year-old Forbidden City.
Thousands of tourists were kept behind barriers as Ms Gillard, partner Tim Mathieson and their entourage were guided through the colourful and ornate buildings that were once home to China's emperor.
Ms Gillard met a group of West Australian school students and posed with another family of Australians tourists.
"It's magnificent, isn't it?" Ms Gillard remarked.
The prime minister spent about half an hour inside before Chinese authorities opened the tourist floodgates.
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Ms Gillard is due to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao later on Wednesday.
She will leave China on Thursday morning bound for the royal wedding in London.
