The Forbidden City (Palace Museum, Beijing, China) — The Most Magnificent Imperial Palace Complex in the World

Overview of the Forbidden City Once a royal forbidden area, it is now open for visits. The enormous palace built during the Ming and Qing dynasties is truly a remarkable experience. This historic palace embodies the cultural depth of China.

Type: Historical Site, Architecture, Museum, World Heritage

Best Seasons: All seasons, especially autumn.

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–4 hours

Opening Hours:

• April to October: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
• November to March: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
• Closed on Mondays (except national holidays and July to August)

Ticket Prices:

• April to October: 60 RMB
• November to March: 40 RMB

地址：中国北京市东城区景山前街4号 100009

Overview The Forbidden City, officially known as the Palace Museum, was the imperial palace for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties until the fall of the Qing Dynasty. It is now open to the public as the Palace Museum. As the center of supreme power for five centuries, common people were prohibited from approaching the palace walls under the threat of immediate execution (hence the name “Forbidden City”).

The construction of the Forbidden City was commissioned by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (the third emperor Zhu Di), and construction began in 1406. After 14 years of labor by a million workers, it was completed as China’s largest ancient royal palace complex, covering an area of 72 hectares with 8,703 rooms. The entire Forbidden City is built with wooden structures, yellow glazed tiles on the roofs, and a base of bluish-white marble.

Layout and Construction The Forbidden City is rectangular, 960 meters long from north to south and 750 meters wide from east to west, covering an area equivalent to 101 football fields. It has a total of 8,703 rooms, all with wooden structures, yellow glazed tile roofs, and bluish-white marble bases. Surrounded by a four-layer city wall and a 52-meter-wide moat, it is highly defensible with gates on either side and intricately designed corner towers at each corner. To emphasize the emperor’s supreme status, the ceremonial halls (Outer Court), the emperor’s living quarters (Inner Court), and the Imperial Garden are aligned along the central axis of the Forbidden City (which is also the axis of Beijing city) from south to north. Other buildings, such as the emperor’s father’s and previous emperors’ palaces and temples, are located on the sides of this axis.

Classic Tour Route The Forbidden City is vast, and you can spend an entire day wandering through the palaces. However, since most people have limited time, choosing a classic and time-efficient tour route is essential. The best route is along the central axis of the Forbidden City, which takes about 2 hours. Besides admiring the magnificent palace architecture, you might also have the chance to visit one of the exhibitions along the axis if you walk quickly.

Start at the Meridian Gate, and upon entering, visit the Outer Court, Inner Court, and the Imperial Garden, and finally exit through the Divine Might Gate.

午门是紫禁城的正门（南门）。穿过天安门，就到了紫禁城的正门（天安门，位于天安门广场以北）。这里是皇帝最能彰显权威的地方，颁布诏书，宣布来年日历，赦免战俘。穿过午门，过金水河，就到了外朝的正门——太和殿。

The Outer Court is where the emperor held important ceremonies and exercised his power. It features three main halls. The first is the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the largest and most spectacular building in the Forbidden City, used for the enthronement of new emperors and other grand ceremonies such as the emperor’s birthday and weddings. The second is the Hall of Central Harmony, a transitional palace where the emperor rested and rehearsed ceremonies held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The third is the Hall of Preserved Harmony, used for New Year’s Eve and Lantern Festival banquets, and for selecting the top three candidates in the imperial examinations. Don’t miss the 16.57-meter-long white marble pavement behind the Hall of Preserved Harmony, which is adorned with carvings of dragons, seas, and clouds and weighs 200 tons.

Descending the white marble base behind the Hall of Preserved Harmony, you enter the wide courtyard that separates the Outer Court from the Inner Court.

The Inner Court was the emperor’s residence and office. The main gate of the Inner Court is the Gate of Divine Prowess, where ministers waited for the emperor’s military and administrative decisions. Passing through this gate, you reach the Palace of Celestial Purity, where 14 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties resided and managed state affairs. Continuing north, you arrive at the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, the coronation hall for Qing dynasty empresses. The northernmost palace is the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, often featured in Chinese palace dramas and known to the public as the bedroom of the Ming dynasty empress.

The Imperial Garden, located at the northern end of the Inner Court, is slightly smaller than two football fields and was a recreational area for the emperor and the imperial harem. The garden features pine and cypress trees, rockeries, and scenic architecture, creating a year-round green landscape within the Forbidden City.

神武门是紫禁城的北门。自 1925 年紫禁城改建为故宫博物院以来，神武门就成为故宫的正门。（但进入故宫只能通过午门。）

Note: If you have enough time, you can visit the Qing dynasty emperors’ birthday celebration exhibition in the west wing of the Palace of Celestial Purity. The exhibition features grand celebration scenes of three Qing emperors and two empress dowagers, including Emperor Kangxi (reigned 1662-1722), Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736-1795), and Empress Dowager Cixi (reigned 1835-1908).

In-Depth Tour Route For those willing to spend more time exploring the Forbidden City and fascinated by museum artifacts, there are more areas to explore. Generally, aside from the central axis attractions, the Forbidden City can be divided into four additional parts:

• Wuying Hall: Located on the west side of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Outer Court’s west side), now converted into a calligraphy and painting gallery, showcasing representative calligraphy and painting works from various historical periods.
• Wenhua Hall: Located symmetrically opposite Wuying Hall, displaying ceramics from various dynasties.
• Western Six Palaces: Refers to the six palaces on the west side of the Inner Court, all preserved in their original state. These palaces were once the residences of the emperor’s concubines, and visitors can view the original royal living scenes.
• Eastern Exhibition Area: Located on the east side of the Forbidden City (Inner Court’s east side), with several notable permanent exhibitions. The Treasure Gallery, Clock and Watch Gallery, Gold and Silver Gallery, and Bronze Gallery feature invaluable artifacts representing China’s art history.

It is generally recommended to visit Wuying Hall or Wenhua Hall first, then the Outer Court and Inner Court, and finally the Western Palaces or Eastern Exhibition Area.

Forbidden City – Imperial Garden Guest photos of the Forbidden City

Forbidden City – Artifacts Guest photos of the Forbidden City

Panoramic View of the Forbidden City After visiting the museum, if time permits, you can go to Jingshan Park to enjoy a panoramic view of the Forbidden City. There is only one road between the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park. The park has five pavilions, the highest of which is called the Ten-Thousand Spring Pavilion, where you can see a panoramic view of the Forbidden City and other attractions along Beijing’s central axis. The park entrance fee is 10 RMB, and besides the panoramic view, the park itself is a beautiful spot to experience local life, with many activities held by locals.

Forbidden City – Artifacts Panoramic view of the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park (guest photo)

Where is the Forbidden City – Location The Forbidden City is located in the center of Beijing, very close to Tiananmen Square. You can easily find and take a taxi, subway, bus, or bicycle to get there.

• 6 km from Temple of Heaven
• 15 km from Summer Palace
• 65 km from Badaling Great Wall
• 45 km from Dingling Tomb
• 9 km from Bird’s Nest

If taking the subway, you can take Line 1 to Tiananmen East Station and walk about 900 meters to enter the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate.

Explore China Tour (Highly Recommended) If you want to avoid the hustle and hassle of public transportation and navigation, you can book our private tour packages covering sightseeing, dining, and transportation. Our local guides and drivers will escort you swiftly and conveniently to the Forbidden City and handle all the details. You can focus solely on sightseeing.

Forbidden City Our guests visiting the Forbidden City in 2018

Practical Tips

Facilities:

• (1) Audio guides are available at the entrance. Rental fees: 20 RMB per unit for Mandarin and Cantonese, 40 RMB per unit for other languages.
• (2) The museum has accessible pathways for wheelchair users, and facilities such as strollers, wheelchairs, and umbrellas are available at the entrance.

Additional Fees: The Treasure Gallery and Clock and Watch Gallery require an additional 10 RMB fee for admission.

Shoe Notice: Since the visit usually lasts over 2 hours, it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes.

Entrance: Although the museum has four gates, visitors can only enter through the Meridian Gate and exit through the Gate of Divine Prowess or East Flower Gate.

Dining Recommendations: It is recommended to bring some snacks into the Forbidden City, as food inside is expensive and not very tasty. After the visit, you can find a good restaurant outside the Forbidden City.

Winter Scenery: Beijing winters are very cold, with temperatures generally below freezing. However, there are fewer tourists in winter, and the snow-covered Forbidden City is definitely a beautiful sight.