A photographer is caught taking a nude photo in the Forbidden City. [Photo/Weibo.com]

Forbidden City management called police after last month's naked photo shooting incident and have appealed for law-enforcement powers to curb illegal behavior.

Photos of a naked model shot in the Forbidden City and posted by a Sina Weibo user named "Wanimal" on May 17 generated outrage and controversy on the Internet.

Responding to netizens' condemnation and questioning whether such photography is appropriate at a world-famous cultural site, officials at the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, revealed that police are investigating.

According to the Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security, a person intentionally exposing their body in a public place, if the circumstances are "abominable", shall be detained for not less than 5 days but not more than 10. Police will determine whether last month's shoot violated the law.

Forbidden City management also said scalpers, illegal tourist guides and vendors, common sights around the attraction, have defrauded and even threatened the safety of foreign and domestic visitors over the years but no powers are in force to control the problem, as they do not have law-enforcement authority.

The setting up of a special law-enforcement team to maintain a safe, regulated and clean environment was proposed by Shan Jixiang, director of the Palace Museum, during last year's Two Sessions.