BEIJING - The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, will be closed to the public every Monday for renovation and maintenance from next year, it announced Monday.

The former imperial palace has been closed on Monday afternoons this year. The closure is being extended to cover the whole of Monday from January 1. On Mondays, ancient architecture will be renovated, cultural relics protected and museum staff will receive training, said a museum spokesman.

On public holidays and Mondays during July and August, the museum will be open, the spokesman said.

Located in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City was home to China's emperors and was the highest center of power for about 500 years. It attracts more than 14 million visitors annually.