The Forbidden City of Daojiang - MLP Expanded

Illustration done by =jcbarquet. I've currently commissioned him to give some rough environmental sketches of the different far off regions in my 'Expanded' universe for My Little Pony/Equestria.

One of the three 'principal' Imperial Commanderies in the 'Three Kingdoms', Daojiang is also known as the 'Middle Kingdom', as it lies south of the Imperial City of Luo'shan (to the north) and the Ancestral City of Am-ling (to the south).

Daojiang serves as the central seat of power for Celestia's Chosen, the Jade Empress Dao You. The massive sprawling city is home to a race of deer-folk known as the Dao. The Dao are masters of either the natural elements of Earth or Fire (with the exception being the Empress, as she herself can control and manipulate both). The city center is occupied by a grand complex known as the Forbidden Palace; and it is here that the Dao Empress generally resides and lives, though it has been known that on rare occasions she is allowed to leave its grounds to serve diplomatic functions such as head-of-state.