Two Chinese tourists caused outrage after parking their Mercedes SUV inside Beijing's Forbidden City to pose for selfies.
Cars are banned from the UNESCO World Heritage site to protect it from damage. However two women brought their flash Mercedes G-Wagen inside the walls of the monument for photographs and posted the images on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter.
The pair posted photographs from the grand square inside the 600-year-old former imperial palace which normally welcomes 19 million visitors a year.
However, the two women visited the site on a Monday when it is normally closed.
Also, even when world leaders visit the tourist attraction, they have to do it on foot.
Officials responsible for managing the tourist attraction said: 'The Palace Museum is deeply shocked and sincerely apologises to the public.'
An official vowed to 'strictly manage and stop such actions' from taking place in future.
The controversial photos had been posted on Weibo this week but were swiftly deleted after sparking ire among users questioning how the women had entered the Forbidden City, which is normally very well guarded.
Many commentators expressed indignation at privileges and freebies perceived to be dished out to China's rich elites. 'Such behaviour is hurtful to the citizens,' said one angry user.
'Even foreign leaders must get out of their vehicle' to visit the palace, noted another user called Maomao.
Footage of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte visiting the Forbidden Palace two years ago shows the leader touring the site on foot.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
