Zhongnanhai (Chinese: 中南海) is a former imperial garden in the Imperial City, Beijing, adjacent to the Forbidden City; it serves as the central headquarters for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the State Council (central government) of China. Zhongnanhai houses the office of the CCP General Secretary (paramount leader) and office of the Chinese Premier. The term Zhongnanhai is closely linked with the central government and senior CCP officials. It is often used as a metonym for the Chinese leadership at large (in the same sense that the terms "White House" refers to the U.S. executive branch, "Raisina Hill" for the Indian government, "Downing Street" and “Whitehall” for the British government, and "Kremlin" used by the Russian government).